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'''Michael Grade''' (born [[8 March]] [[1943]]) was a British broadcast executive. In | {{you may|Michael Grade (in-universe)|n1=his DWU counterpart}} | ||
'''Michael Grade, Baron Grade of Yarmouth CBE''' (born [[8 March (people)|8 March]] [[1943 (people)|1943]]<ref>[https://peoplepill.com/people/michael-grade/ People Pill]</ref>) was a [[Great Britain|British]] broadcast executive. In 1984, he joined [[BBC Television]] as [[Controller of BBC One]]. | |||
In 1985, he controversially put ''[[Doctor Who]]'' on an eighteen-month hiatus citing low ratings, overly violent content, and farcical storylines. In 1986, he compelled [[John Nathan-Turner]] to fire [[Colin Baker]]. In 1987, Grade stepped down as Controller and was succeeded by [[Jonathan Powell]]. | |||
{{quote|I hated ''Doctor Who.'' I said to [[John Nathan-Turner|the producer]], "Do you go to the cinema much? Have you seen ''[[Star Wars]]'' or ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial|ET]]?"'' He said yes. I said, "I've got news for you, so has our audience. What we were serving up as science fiction was garbage".|Michael Grade<ref name="standard">https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-interview-michael-grade-talks-glory-days-brexit-and-fiddler-on-the-roof-a4248781.html</ref>}} | |||
Despite his consequent negative image amongst ''Doctor Who'' fans, he was unambiguously good for the programme on at least one occasion. In 2004, Grade, as Chairman of the BBC Board of Directors, presided over the unanimous vote which elected [[Mark Thompson]] as the [[Director-General of the BBC]]. Thompson stayed in the job for eight years, until the broadcast of the beginning of [[series 7 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 7]]. Grade is thus partially responsible for installing a management regime which allowed ''Doctor Who'' to become one of the leading shows in Britain. | |||
Grade's expressed attitude toward the programme softened somewhat with the revived series. In 2012 he told the ''[[Radio Times]]'' "From clunky Daleks that couldn't go up and down stairs to the filmic qualities today of ''Doctor Who,'' it's a transformation. The show still leaves me cold, but I admire it, which I never did before."<ref name="radiotimes">https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-04-02/michael-grade-i-think-the-bbc-has-become-too-bureaucratic/</ref> | |||
Grade also contributed to the [[2012 (releases)|2012]] charity reference book ''[[Behind the Sofa: Celebrity Memories of Doctor Who]]''. In his essay he remains firm that the show was "horrible" and deserved cancellation when he did so, but praises [[Russell T Davies]] and the revived series.<ref name="behind">''[[Behind the Sofa: Celebrity Memories of Doctor Who]]''pp.24-26</ref> | |||
== In the DWU == | |||
In [[2004]], [[Michael Grade (in-universe)|Michael Grade]] attended the opening of the [[Tomorrow Window]]s at [[Tate Modern]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Tomorrow Windows (novel)|The Tomorrow Windows]]'') | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{imdb name|id=0333529}} | |||
[[Category:BBC | == Footnotes == | ||
{{Reflist}} | |||
{{BBC1}} | |||
{{NameSort}} | |||
[[Category:Controllers of BBC One]] | |||
[[Category:Behind the Sofa contributors]] | |||
[[Category:BAFTA award winners]] | |||
Latest revision as of 21:24, 20 September 2024
- You may be looking for his DWU counterpart.
Michael Grade, Baron Grade of Yarmouth CBE (born 8 March 1943[1]) was a British broadcast executive. In 1984, he joined BBC Television as Controller of BBC One.
In 1985, he controversially put Doctor Who on an eighteen-month hiatus citing low ratings, overly violent content, and farcical storylines. In 1986, he compelled John Nathan-Turner to fire Colin Baker. In 1987, Grade stepped down as Controller and was succeeded by Jonathan Powell.
I hated Doctor Who. I said to the producer, "Do you go to the cinema much? Have you seen Star Wars or ET?" He said yes. I said, "I've got news for you, so has our audience. What we were serving up as science fiction was garbage".
Despite his consequent negative image amongst Doctor Who fans, he was unambiguously good for the programme on at least one occasion. In 2004, Grade, as Chairman of the BBC Board of Directors, presided over the unanimous vote which elected Mark Thompson as the Director-General of the BBC. Thompson stayed in the job for eight years, until the broadcast of the beginning of series 7. Grade is thus partially responsible for installing a management regime which allowed Doctor Who to become one of the leading shows in Britain.
Grade's expressed attitude toward the programme softened somewhat with the revived series. In 2012 he told the Radio Times "From clunky Daleks that couldn't go up and down stairs to the filmic qualities today of Doctor Who, it's a transformation. The show still leaves me cold, but I admire it, which I never did before."[3]
Grade also contributed to the 2012 charity reference book Behind the Sofa: Celebrity Memories of Doctor Who. In his essay he remains firm that the show was "horrible" and deserved cancellation when he did so, but praises Russell T Davies and the revived series.[4]
In the DWU[[edit] | [edit source]]
In 2004, Michael Grade attended the opening of the Tomorrow Windows at Tate Modern. (PROSE: The Tomorrow Windows)
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- ↑ People Pill
- ↑ https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-interview-michael-grade-talks-glory-days-brexit-and-fiddler-on-the-roof-a4248781.html
- ↑ https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-04-02/michael-grade-i-think-the-bbc-has-become-too-bureaucratic/
- ↑ Behind the Sofa: Celebrity Memories of Doctor Whopp.24-26
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