[Community Television] Grade is new BBC chairman

[Michelle McGuire]

Grade is new BBC chairman
Leigh Holmwood
02 April 2004 10:27


Former Channel 4 chief executive Michael Grade is to be confirmed as 
the new BBC chairman today.

The charismatic media mogul – once famously dubbed the "pornographer in 
chief" by the Daily Mail – is expected to be a popular choice amongst 
staff still reeling from the Hutton inquiry which saw previous chairman 
Gavyn Davies resign.

Media secretary Tessa Jowell is expected to confirm the appointment at 
13.00. Grade, 61, was one of the favourites for the £81,320 four-day 
week post and is thought to have been chosen from a shortlist of three 
– former BBC vice chairwoman Baroness Young is also believed to have 
been on the list. There were 79 applications for the role.

He is now expected to give up his stake in Pinewood and Shepperton 
studios, the flotation of which he announced yesterday, and will also 
stand aside as acting chairman of The Television Corporation.

Grade is seen as a "safe pair of hands" and has good television 
experience – he was a former BBC1 controller and BBC director of 
television as well as director of programmes at London Weekend 
Television.

Tory shadow culture secretary Julie Kirkbride welcomed the appointment. 
She told BBC Radio 4's Today: "We want someone who is strong enough to 
run the show, and run it firmly and give everyone a fair crack of the 
whip."

"I have every confidence that Michael Grade will be able to do this."

Grade will replace acting chairman Lord Ryder, who will retire from the 
board of governors completely later in the year.

Source:broadcastnow.co.uk



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