Michael Ian Grade CBE (born March 8, 1943) is a British businessman, and a distinguished figure in the field of broadcasting. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A businessperson (also businessman or businesswoman) is someone who is employed at usually a profit-oriented enterprise, or more specifically someone For the band see Broadcast (band Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and/or Video signals which transmit He was BBC chairman and is currently Executive Chairman of ITV plc. ITV plc ( is a British media company that operates 11 of the 15 regional television broadcasters that make up the ITV Network, the oldest and largest commercial
Contents |
Biography
Early life
Grade was born into a Jewish show business family originally called Winogradski; his father was the theatrical agent Leslie Grade, while his uncles were the impresarios Lew Grade[1] and Bernard Delfont. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Showbiz redirects here For other uses see Showbiz (disambiguation. Leslie Grade (1916-1979 was a British agent and executive with The Grade Organisation Lew Grade Baron Grade (25 December 1906&ndash13 December 1998 born Lev Winogradsky, was an influential Showbusiness Impresario and Television Bernard Delfont Baron Delfont ( 5 September 1909 &ndash 28 July 1994) born Boris (or Boruch Winogradsky, was a leading He was educated at Stowe School, and St Dunstan's College, London. Stowe School is a British independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire, referred to as a Public school. St Dunstan's College is a co-educational Independent school in South East London, England. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.
Career
He began his career with the Daily Mirror in 1960, and was a sports columnist from 1964 to 1966. The Daily Mirror, often referred to simply as The Mirror, is a British Tabloid daily Newspaper founded in 1903 Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. By an account he told himself (on a Channel 4 chat-show, entitled The Late Clive James), the job had been organised by his father. Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began Clive James AM (born Vivian James, on October 7, 1939 in Kogarah New South Wales) is an Expatriate Australian When his father suffered a serious stroke in 1966, the 23-year-old Grade moved into his theatrical business. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. In 1969 he moved to London Management & Representation. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
London Weekend Television
He went into television in 1973 when he joined London Weekend Television (LWT) as Deputy Controller of Programmes (Entertainment), achieving the post of Director of Programmes in 1976. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. [1] At LWT, Grade worked alongside both John Birt and Greg Dyke and as Director of Programmes commissioned the controversial series Mind Your Language as well as the popular The Professionals and the long running arts strand The South Bank Show. John Birt Baron Birt (born 10 December 1944) served as the Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC from 1992 to 2000 Gregory Dyke (born 20 May 1947) is a Journalist and broadcaster. Mind Your Language is a British comedy television series, that premiered on ITV in late 1977 The Professionals was a British crime-action Television drama series that aired on the ITV network from 1977 to 1983 filmed between 1977 The South Bank Show is an award-winning Television arts magazine show made by London Weekend Television, presented by Melvyn Bragg, broadcast In 1981 he had a stint in the United States as President of independent production company Embassy Television and as an independent producer. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
BBC (1st stint)
Grade joined BBC Television in 1984 as Controller of BBC1[1], becoming Director of Programmes in 1986 and Managing Director Designate in 1987. Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) His tenure as Controller was especially controversial, with several high profile public outcries over decisions, such as the decision to stop importing Dynasty (subsequently reversed) and the forced 18-month hiatus for Doctor Who in 1985. Dynasty is an American Prime time television Soap opera that aired on ABC from January 12 1981 to Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. It is not entirely clear the extent to which Grade alone was responsible for these rulings, but in the case of both Dynasty and Doctor Who, he became the most prominent target of the campaigns to save the series. In recent years, Grade has, on a number of occasions, claimed that he postponed Doctor Who out of personal dislike. Later in 1986 he took the decision to fire actor Colin Baker from the title role of Doctor Who. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Colin Baker (born London, 8 June 1943 is an English Actor who is best known for playing the sixth incarnation of the Doctor Grade was going out with Baker's ex-wife, Liza Goddard, at the time. Liza Goddard (born 20 January 1950, in Smethwick, West Midlands, England) is a television and stage Actress best known [2] In 2003, Grade remarked to a journalist for The Daily Telegraph that he had fired Baker because he thought his portrayal of the Doctor was "utterly unlikable, absolutely god-awful in fact. For "The Daily Telegraph" in Australia see The Daily Telegraph (Australia. "
Grade was also responsible for the repeating of Australian soap opera Neighbours, at first purely an afternoon programme, in a later timeslot, on the advice of his daughter who was irritated that she could not watch it due to her being at school. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. A soap opera is an ongoing episodic work of Fiction, usually broadcast on Television or Radio. Neighbours is a long-running multiple Logie Award -winning Australian Soap opera, which first aired in March 1985 This proved to be a successful scheduling decision that still remains in place as of 2007, and paid off at the time with audiences in excess of 15 million viewers for the new 5. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. 35pm showings. It acts as a target finish time for CBBC and as a buffer between it and the 6 O'Clock News. CBBC ( Children's BBC) is the brand-name for the BBC 's Children's television programmes aimed at children aged between 6 and 12 years old He also came close to completely axing the sitcom Blackadder, judging the first series to be unfunny, because of lukewarm reviews and high cost (it featured extensive location sequences). Blackadder is the generic name that encompasses four series of an acclaimed BBC One historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments He demanded that the price for renewing the series was that it be a completely studio-based production with an audience. It went on to become one of the most successful British sitcoms of all time.
With Dr Who and Blackadder under attack, he seemed to have a personal distaste for other Sci-Fi, for example his cancellation of the filming of a third series of The Tripods. The Tripods is a series of Novels written by Samuel Youd (under the pseudonym "John Christopher" [3]
Channel 4
In 1987 he returned to commercial television, accepting the post of chief executive of Channel 4, replacing Jeremy Isaacs. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) A chief executive officer ( CEO) or chief executive is typically the highest-ranking corporate officer ( executive) or administrator Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began Sir Jeremy Isaacs (born 28 September 1932) is a British television producer and executive winner of many BAFTA awards and international Grade phased out some of the channel's more high-brow programming, for which he was accused of 'dumbing down'. Grade responded that in the week he took over at Channel 4 they had screened a repeat of The Far Pavilions in which the American actress Amy Irving blacked up as an Indian Princess. The Far Pavilions is an epic Novel of British- Indian history by M Amy Davis Irving (born September 10, 1953) is an American Actress, known for her $100 million settlement with Steven Spielberg During this period he was attacked by the Conservative press: the columnist Paul Johnson in the Daily Mail gave him the soubriquet of Britain's "pornographer-in-chief". Paul Johnson (born Paul Bede Johnson on 2 November 1928 in Manchester, England) is a British Roman Catholic The Daily Mail is a British newspaper currently published in a tabloid format He was successful in developing the business at a time when Channel 4 was obliged to give a proportion of its advertising revenue to the rival ITV network. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent As well as securing talent from the BBC Grade also recognised the improving quality of US television output making series such as Friends and ER mainstays of the channel's schedule. Friends was an ER is an Emmy Award -winning American Medical drama series created by Novelist Michael Crichton and airing on Grade also became embroiled in a vicious dispute with Chris Morris over the series Brass Eye. Christopher Morris (born 5 September 1965 in Bristol) is an English Comedian, Writer, director, producer, Brass Eye is a UK television series of satirical spoof documentaries which aired on Channel 4 in 1997 and was re-run in 2001 He went from Channel 4 to head First Leisure Corporation, leaving there in 1999 after a substantial restructuring to return to media as chairman of the new Pinewood Studios company. First Leisure Corporation plc was a leisure operator in the United Kingdom between the years 1981 and 2004 Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Pinewood Studios is a major British Film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire.
BBC (2nd stint)
Grade had ambitions to become chairman of the BBC board of governors in 2001, but lost out to Gavyn Davies. The Board of Governors of the BBC was a group of twelve people who together regulated the BBC and represented the interests of the public in particular those of viewers and Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Gavyn Davies, OBE (born 27 November 1950) was the Chairman of the BBC from 2001 until 2004 a former Goldman Sachs banker He was also on the board of the ill-fated Millennium Dome. The Millennium Dome, often referred to simply as The Dome, is the original name of a large Dome -shaped building originally used to house He has been chairman of Octopus Publishing, the Camelot Group, and Hemscott, which he has indicated he will be giving up. Camelot Group plc Note A are the operators of the UK National Lottery.
Following Davies' resignation as a result of the Hutton Inquiry report, it was announced on 2 April 2004 that Grade had been appointed Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC; at the time his only show-stopper requirement was that he did not have to give up being a Charlton Athletic Director. The Hutton Inquiry was a British Judicial inquiry chaired by Lord Hutton, appointed by the United Kingdom Labour government with the Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The Board of Governors of the BBC was a group of twelve people who together regulated the BBC and represented the interests of the public in particular those of viewers and Charlton Athletic Football Club (also known as The Addicks) is a professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of He took up his post on 17 May. Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason.
Following the end of the first season of the revived series of Doctor Who in 2005, he wrote a letter to the BBC Director-General, congratulating all involved in the project on its success, signing-off with "PS never dreamed I would ever write this. Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. Must be going soft!"[4]
On 19 September 2006, he joined Ocado (the Waitrose food delivery company) as Chairman. Ocado is an internet grocery retailer based in the UK It sells products from the Waitrose supermarket chain as well as some of its own goods and distributes them to homes
ITV plc
On 28 November 2006, Grade and the BBC confirmed that he was to resign from his post with the BBC to replace Sir Peter Burt as Chairman and Charles Allen as Chief Executive of one of the companies which formed part of its commercial rival ITV, becoming Executive Chairman of ITV plc effective on 8 January 2007. Sir Peter Burt is a British businessman He was born in East Africa but was educated in Scotland Charles Allen (born 4 January 1957) was Chief Executive of ITV plc from its formation in 2004 until 2007 Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent ITV plc ( is a British media company that operates 11 of the 15 regional television broadcasters that make up the ITV Network, the oldest and largest commercial Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
ITV as a network, has been struggling with falling advertising and ratings. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent Mr Grade said his first priority within ITV plc would be to work as a senior partner of ITV Network Limited to improve ITV programming as well as improving it's own Digital Channels ITV2,ITV3,ITV4 and CITV. ITV plc ( is a British media company that operates 11 of the 15 regional television broadcasters that make up the ITV Network, the oldest and largest commercial Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent On 12 September 2007, Grade announced a controversial five-year restructuring plan for ITV plc owned Regions[5] targeting entertainment as the Broadcasters top priority to bring to ITV . Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent A major overhaul of ITV Plc's regional structure was also proposed. [6] The proposals would see consolidation of the ITV regional news programmes in England, with regions now broadcasting one service per region rather than multiple tailored local services (for example: ITV Yorkshire would no longer broadcast separate Northern and Southern regions). Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent Yorkshire Television is the ITV contractor for the Yorkshire franchise The proposed changes would also fully merge ITV Border with ITV Tyne Tees and ITV West with ITV Westcountry, effectively ending two regions' tenure as independent players within ITV, these proposals have been highly criticized by BECTU and The National Union of Journalists [6] . Border Television (now legally known as ITV Border is the ITV franchisee for the border region between England and Scotland (including the south of Scotland much of Cumbria Tyne Tees Television is the ITV television contractor for North East England. HTV, now legally known as ITV Wales and West, is the ITV contractor for Wales and the West of England. Westcountry Television, is the ITV franchise holder in the South West of England replacing its predecessor TSW (Television South West, on 1 January 1993 Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent The Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU is a Trade union in the United Kingdom. Any changes would be subject to full approval by Ofcom. The Office of Communications (Y Swyddfa Gyfathrebiadau or as it is more often known Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the Communication
Private life
He was made a CBE in 1998, and is married to his third wife, Francesca; they have a son, Samuel. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) He was previously married to Penelope Jane Levinson, with whom he had two children, and Sarah Lawson, a producer. Sarah Lawson is an English Film producer. Career From 1982 to 1985 she was Vice President of Planning and Development for DL Taffner Ltd
References
- ^ a b c Michael Grade The most popular media mogul in Britain
- ^ Nathan, Sara; Colin Robertson and Thomas Whitaker. Sara Nathan (born 3 September, 1977) is an English Journalist and newspaper columnist "ITV can make the Grade", The Sun, 2006-11-29. The Sun is a Tabloid daily newspaper published in the United Kingdom and Ireland with the highest circulation of any daily English-language Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe Retrieved on 2006-11-30. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats
- ^ The Tripods#TV_series
- ^ Dean, Jason. The Tripods is a series of Novels written by Samuel Youd (under the pseudonym "John Christopher" "Doctor Who's greatest enemy finally surrenders" (free registration required), The Guardian, 2005-06-22. The Guardian (until 1959 The Manchester Guardian) is a British Newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. Retrieved on 2006-11-30. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats
- ^ "Content is king for ITV's five-year plan", MediaGuardian, 12 September 2007. Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Retrieved on 2007-09-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again
- ^ a b "Unions slam ITV regional cuts", MediaGuardian, 12 September 2007. Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Retrieved on 2007-09-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again
External links
- bbc. co. uk Grade goes Commercial again
- ft. com Grade's letter to staff and BBC response from BBC release
- telegraph. co. uk Grade defects to ITV
- BBC News: Michael Grade is new BBC chairman
- BBC News: Michael Grade profile
- Michael Grade biography at the British Film Institute's Screenonline
- Michael Grade at the Internet Movie Database
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alan Hart | Controller of BBC One 1984–1987 | Succeeded by Jonathan Powell |
| Preceded by Jeremy Isaacs | Chief Executive of Channel 4 1988–1997 | Succeeded by Michael Jackson |
| Preceded by The Lord Ryder (acting) | Chairman of the BBC Board of Governors 2004–2006 | Succeeded by Anthony Salz (acting) |
| Preceded by Sir Peter Burt as non-Executive Chairman Charles Allen as Chief Executive | Executive Chairman of ITV plc 2007–present | Incumbent |
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic