Ex-mirror editor to lead flagging Talktv

RUPERT MURDOCH’S Talktv has hired the former editor of the Mirror to head up the channel fronted by Piers Morgan in an attempt to kick-start flatlining viewing figures.

Richard Wallace will take over as head of television at News UK this month, the company said.

His remit will include “all editorial output” from insurgent broadcaster Talktv. News UK, which also owns the Sun, The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio, launched the channel in April as part of owner Mr Murdoch’s ambition to challenge the BBC.

Mr Morgan has been the public face of the channel, with adverts featuring the slogan: “Love him or loathe him, you won’t want to miss him.”

But despite attracting hundreds of thousands of viewers on launch day, the presenter’s show has struggled to outdo the ratings of rival broadcasters in the weeks and months since. Mr Wallace is a former editor of the Daily Mirror newspaper and previously worked at Syco Entertainment, Simon Cowell’s production company.

Rebekah Brooks, chief executive of News UK, said: “Richard has a breadth of knowledge that will be invaluable across the schedule of Talktv.

“We are delighted to welcome him to the company as we build on our launch programming to deliver new shows which showcase the best of all of News UK’S journalism.”

Talktv’s flagship show, Piers Morgan Uncensored, has suffered a big drop in ratings since its initial broadcast. When it launched on April 25, the 8pm show attracted an average 316,800 viewers – but this had fallen to just 41,500 a month later, according to ratings compiler Barb.

That was less than Nigel Farage’s programme on rival start-up GB News, which commanded 57,500 viewers at 7pm. The BBC secured 106,300 during Mr Morgan’s slot.