Poacher to gamekeeper for Ofcom’s top job
Lord Grade, 78, applies to lead watchdog which he has rebuked for ‘taking sides in the culture war’
AFTER a career at the helm of some of the country’s biggest broadcasters, it would surely be a fascinating case of poacher turned gamekeeper.
But it has emerged that Michael Grade, the former chief executive of Channel 4 and former chairman of the BBC, has applied to run Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator.
The Sunday Telegraph understands stands that the Conservative peer has submitubmitted an application to lead Ofcom m after Paul Dacre, Boris Johnson’s first choice for the role, pulled out last year.
This comes after Lord Grade warned the regulator against “taking sides in the culture war” by banning actors in “blackface” and recently telling the BBC the licence fee is too expensive.
Since chairing the BBC between 2004 and 2006, Lord Grade, 78, who is firmly fixed in the public eye for his cigars, red socks and red power braces – has become a fierce critic of some of the broadcaster’s actions.
Last week he praised Nadine Dorries, the Culture Secretary, for her decision to “fire the starting pistol for the big debate about what we want from the BBC and how we pay for it”.
Asked about his application to chair Ofcom, Lord Grade – who backed EastEast Ender, The Singing Detective, Friends and ERon ER on his channels and co-financed Trainspotting and Four Weddings and a Funeral – said: “I wouldn’t dream of commenting on any rumours.”
If appointed it would mark a pinnacle of achievement in the industry for a man who already hails from one of the country’s most renowned entertainment and broadcasting dynasties.
One of Lord Grade’s uncles was Lew Grade, the impresario and media proprietor, who was instrumental in the early days of the ITV network, while his father Leslie ran a successful lightentertainment talent agency.
Lord Grade, who as chairman of Channel 4 was criticised for the sexual content of some of its shows – including rows over Eurotrash, which featured nudity and transvestism, and Dyke TV – has not always seen eye to eye with the watchdog he now aims to run.
Last year The Telegraph disclosed that the peer, who has also served as executive chairman of ITV, had written to Ofcom saying that its investigation into a family-run nostalgia and vintagefilm television channel for showing a 1970s TV programme could set a “dangerous precedent”.
The watchdog was investigating whether Talking Pictures TV breached standards by broadcasting an episode of Rogue’s Rogues Rock on Boxing Day which feafea tured blacked-up actors.
The comedy adventure show, known for outlandish plots, ran for three series on ITV in the mid-1970s. In a letter to Dame Melanie Dawes, the Ofcom chief executive, Lord Grade said that he was “deeply troubled” by the investigation and warned that any sanction would “[be] politically correct censorship”.
He has also waded into the row over the funding of the BBC.
Speaking in the House of Lords last week, Lord Grade said: “I wish those in the BBC who asked for more money from the Government would watch their own news bulletins and see what is going on, with people having to decide whether to heat or eat, and the increased use of food banks.
“There is a complete lack of reality about what is going on in Britain with this regressive tax.
“I believe in the BB BBC and I stand with everybody in this Ho House who supports it, but this is not the time for it to be asking for more money.
“Does the minister agree that the Secretary of State’s decision to fire the starting pistol for the big debate about what we want from the BBC and how we pay for it is a very good step in the right direction and very timely?”
The appointment process is being rerun after officials blocked Mr Dacre’s bid for the role last year.
The new deadline for applications is Wednesday and the process is being overseen by Sue Gray, the senior civil servant who is investigating alleged illicit parties in Downing Street.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport declined to comment on individual applications for the Ofcom role. The Government has said it is “committed to finding the best possible candidate”.