Michael Grade: Difference between revisions
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'''Michael Grade 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]]. | '''Michael Grade 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 ''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)|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. | 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)|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 opinion of the programme softened somewhat over the years. 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 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, 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 the DWU == | ||
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[[Category:Controllers of BBC One]] | [[Category:Controllers of BBC One]] | ||
[[Category:Behind the Sofa contributors]] | [[Category:Behind the Sofa contributors]] | ||
Revision as of 20:26, 16 November 2020
Michael Grade 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 opinion of the programme softened somewhat over the years. 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 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, but praises Russell T Davies and the revived series.[4]
In the DWU
In 2004, he attended the opening of the Tomorrow Windows at Tate Modern. (PROSE: The Tomorrow Windows)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 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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