Channel 4 chiefs’ ‘insult’ to talent outside London Creative England chief steps into debate over moving g broadcaster’s London base
CLAIMS by Channel 4 bosses that the broadcaster would be damaged by moving outside London are “frankly insulting”, according to the head of the national body that promotes creative industries.
Caroline Norbury, chief executive of Creative England, said: “I find this idea that talent is just in working in London frankly insulting to o the 58 million British people who don’t live there.”
The government has launched a consultation on whether Channel 4 should relocate from its current headquarters in Westminster, central London, and the West Midlands has launched a campaign to bring the broadcaster to the region.
But Channel 4 managers are opposing the idea.
Ms Norbury said told a national newspaper: “There are lots of very talented people who would love to work for Channel 4. I find this idea that talent is just in working in London frankly insulting to the 58 million British people who don’t live there.
“The bigger national conversation is around more inclusive growth and popping the Westminster bubble that we see reflected in our media.
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“There has been talk that there would be an exodus of talent. I don’t think there will be. People love those jobs. I don’t think you saw an exodus when the BBC went to Salford.”
Charles Gurassa, chairman of Channel 4, has criticised plans to move the broadcaster. He told a committee of MPs last year that “a full relocation or a very substantial relocation” would make Channel 4 “weaker and smaller and less able to deliver the remit and to invest in the creative industries around the UK.”
Former Channel 4 chief executive David Abraham said Channel 4 might lose between 60 per cent and 80 per cent of its staff if it moved out of London.
He said: “As a manager, r regardless of how much I might believe in that, can you imagine what it would have been like to have managed a creative organisation through that in a time when there is a recession? That is deeply disruptive and I think irresponsib ble.”
Former Culture Secretary K Karen Bradley said last year th that the Government would use legislation to force Channel 4 to move, if it refused to do so voluntarily. New Culture Secreta tary Matt Hancock is understood to be keen to ensure Channel 4 moves.
The West Midlands is highlighting the advantages it can offer Channel 4, which include a diverse population, low business costs and good transport links.
A government study last year concluded that moving Channel 4 to the West Midlands would create 3,412 jobs in the region and grow the region’s economy by £235 million.
Other regions have also submitted proposals.
A government consultation received proposals to bring Channel 4 to Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Greater Manchester, Nottingham, Plymouth, Sheffield, Stafford, Stoke and York.
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