Podcast appearances and mentions of Michael Grade

Wot, no Daleks?!? If you had a time machine and could return to 1963 you would be surprised at the haphazard genesis of Dr Who. We think of it today as the eternal jewel in the BBC crown, but the show was curiously unloved by the Corporation in its first long run. It only made it to air by the skin of its teeth, and the Head of Drama, having definitively ruled out any ‘bug-eyed monsters', was livid when The Daleks hove into view. Later, Michael Grade, who hated the show, tried to cancel it and was overruled by the fanbase. John Higgs is a fan – oh, me too! … Continue reading →

A very special interview here with Lord Grade (Michael Grade) whose fingerprints are all over British TV - from the days when his uncle Lew ran ATV to his own stewardship of LWT, BBC, Channel 4 and Later ITV again. Michael has launched (and axed) some of Britain's most popular TV shows. Here he takes Ashley through a whistle stop potted history of his career, stopping off to reminisce about his time at each of the Britain's terrestrial channels along the way.EastEnders, Neighbours, Mind Your Language, Dr Who, Jasper Carrot, Morecambe and Wise, The Big Breakfast, Four Weddings and a Funeral are just some of the iconic programmes and films that find their way into the chat. And Michael ends with his take on the state of British TV and broadcasting today.Enjoy!Presented and produced by Ashley Byrne. Research by Andrew EdwardsContinuity: Andy Hoyle and Jonathan Kydd.A Made in Manchester Production.Distinct Nostalgia costs money and time to make and we'd welcome your support through Patreon. You can donate via the link below. Cheers to Chaos: Reality TV & CocktailsJoin hosts Will and Marisa as they dive into the most entertaining moments from reality TVListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Peanuts, Popcorn & CrackerjacksPeanuts, Popcorn & Crackerjacks is baseball and entertainment industry podcast...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

We are joined this week by Baron Grade of Yarmouth, previously Michael Grade, who has, at various times, been Controller of BBC1, Chairman of ITV and Chief Executive of Channel 4.  However for all the company directorships and his elevation to the House of Lords we meet on equal footing as football fans because his admirably steadfast passion down the years has been for Charlton Athletic FC.  Amongst a host of amusing and revealing anecdotes, he tells us about how he orchestrated the infamous Snatch of the Day when clever little ITV under his skilful guidance nipped the ball off the giant lumbering centre half that was the BBC.  It's hard to imagine anyone better qualified than Michael to talk about football and television. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We look at the latest developments in the sale of the Telegraph Newspaper and planned cuts at BBC Newsnight. Jane Tranter, the force behind the new Doctor Who, on what the franchise is worth for the BBC and Katie talks to Ofcom chair. Lord Michael Grade, about the future of public service broadcasting. Guests: Hannah Walsh, Principal Analyst, Ampere Analysis; Jane Tranter, Founder and CEO, Bad Wolf; Oliver Shah, Associate Editor and Leader Writer, The Sunday Times; Jane Martinson, author of You May Never See Us Again: The Barclay Dynasty; Michael Grade, Chair, OfcomPresenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson

The latest episode of the podcast which asks; has Rock Expert David Stubbs come from The Sky?After all the lovely Pop trifle we've had in recent episodes, Pop-Crazed Youngsters, it's time for some necessary roughage, as we take a tentative walk down Nineteen Eighty Six Street once more. And yes, it's stillone of the most rammel years for 20th Century Pop, but somehow we managed to find one which doesn't have the whiff of the dog's arse about it.It's only four months into '86, but our Favourite Thursday Evening Pop Treat is having another of its regular crises, this time brought on by the after effects of Michael Grade taking over at BBC1 and pissing about with the scheduling, meaning that ten whole minutes have been lopped off, and the results are not pretty; everything has been crammed in like a Japanese tube train at knocking-off time, videos have been cut off at the knees, there's a neon set better suited for a Miss Wet T-Shirt competition in Romeo & Juliet's Doncaster and the chart rundown – the whole point of the show, mark you – has been utterly defiled.Musicwise, it's better than it has any right to be. Gary Davies – a man bursting with so much sexual potency in 1986 that the sex workers of Amsterdam are pitching themselves through windows to get at him – has been given the chance to run the show solo for the first time in years, but we don't see that much of him, because there's no time. Big Country pitch up in Success Coats. Michael Hurll practically rips the wig off Falco's head and wipes his arse with it. A-Ha continue their spell as the premier teeny band and get creative with a bit of masking tape. Suzanne Vega gets judged by a poster of a German sex-colossus. And then, oh God, it's the longest examination of a single EVER on Chart Music. Janet Jackson stares her ponce of a boyfriend out. It's Immaterial look absolutely knackered and wonder why their label didn't make a video. George Michael drops the weirdest Number One of the decade, and Whitney Houston spoils everything with a huge dollop of mawk.Sarah Bee and Neil Kulkarni join Al Needham to gingerly pick through the wreckage of 1986, veering off on such tangents as Nick Ross' Drug Buffet, Neil's Gin and Vomit Shame, being mistaken for Pete Docherty's stalker, the best way to tell an interview subject that their new album stinks of unwashed cock, how the Ukraine War would have shagged up TOTP if it was still going, an appreciation of Euro-Ponces, how the BBC thought Bob Monkhouse, Barry Cryer and Nigel Havers could stop youths on dingy estates from taking heroin, and a huge Birmingham Piss Troll update. You know the swearing is going to be intense on this one…Video Playlist | Subscribe | Facebook | Twitter | The Chart Music Wiki | Patreon*** Listen to Sarah's new podcast HERE *** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EastEnders was first broadcast on 19 February 1985 as part of new BBC One controller Michael Grade's ‘relaunch' of the channel. The first episode secured an audience of 17 ...

It's another salacious episode of Life on Planet Porky the podcast with Mike Parry and Lesley-Ann Jones. Today's topics include: the clocks going back, breakfast TV news, Lew and Michael Grade, local radio services being slimmed down, Revolver's remastering, Ravi Shankar, Prince Harry, The White Lotus, ordering an extra pillow, keeping it in the family, Prince Jackson and his challenging dad, FADs, James Hunt's sexcapades, the racing driver reputation, feeling undervalued at work, Bono taking his mates to the pub, and Red Bull. It's the podcast that enables you to flap your arms and float in the sky, it's Life on Planet Porky.  This podcast is brought to you in association with Harry's.  Follow the show on Twitter: @PlanetPorky or Mike is: @MikeParry8 while you can find Lesley-Ann: @LAJwriter. Or you can email us questions or comments to: planetporkypod@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!

Lord Michael Grade's career embodies everything I love about entertainment. His story is fascinating, inspirational and motivating…but don't just take my word for it:

The Season 22 Blu-ray has finally arrived! So we take a deep dive into all the new special features! We discuss the shocking revelations from the Nicola Bryant In conversation feature, whether Colin's interview is the best one of the series and whether we should believe a single word Michael Grade says! Plus we discuss the various other new features, including how they tackled A Fix with Sontarans. Please do follow us on Twitter @KERVAMpod. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kervam/message

This week we hear from The Hustle's Principle Reporter and Sunday Editor Zachary Crockett. He talks about his career path working across radio, newsletters, journalism and data, how he makes must-read long-form Sunday issues for The Hustle's business audience, and launching a daily podcast. He also discusses the skills young writers need today, and whether he thinks we've reached peak newsletter. In the news roundup the team discusses the news that BuzzFeed investors are pushing Jonah Peretti to shutter the award-winning but loss-making BuzzFeed News. We ask if the investors are missing the appeal to advertisers, lament the loss of longform investigative work, and ask if this is the nail in the coffin for digital news pureplays (no). In the news roundup we look at why journalists should aim to be their own brands, why Future PLC has acquired two social media companies, and discuss the news that Michael Grade is set to be the new chair of Ofcom. Peter couldn't get his mic to work for 20 minutes before we started recording, if you're wondering.

Former Culture Secretary Baron Vaizey joins Matt Deegan to discuss what's so enticing about being chair of Ofcom, as we hear that Michael Grade has bagged the top job.Also on the programme: the BBC in shock funding story as it actually *gains* 4m from the Government, media writer Maggie Brown and audio consultant Ann Charles ask if it's the journalists that could end up saving Auntie?And, in the Media Quiz, we provide order where there is chaos.A Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with support from Phoebe Adler-Ryan.Tell us what you think of the show: themediapodcast.com/surveySupport us with a top slice of your salary: patreon.com/mediapod Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Did you know Jewish Book Week is London's longest running literary festival? Claudia Rubenstein, Director of Jewish Book Week, tells us about its extraordinary history and what to look forward to amongst the host of fun events that begin on Saturday 26th February. Those taking part include Elif Shafak, Michael Ignatieff, Julia Neuberger, Claudia Roden with Jay Rayner, Simon Schama, Howard Jacobson in conversation with Melvyn Bragg, Mike Leigh, Amy Bloom and Edmund de Waal delivering the 70th anniversary keynote speech. Plus Simon Kuper on football and celebrations of Sondheim and Lehrer, Dylan and Cohen. Closing the festival with a celebratory flourish on 6th March will be Don Black, talking to Michael Grade about his long, distinguished career and his book ‘The Sanest Guy in the Room'. Don puts his sanity down to having a loving family and never having had an unhappy day in his life. To round off Marti Webb, Don's long-time collaborator, will perform some of his best-known songs. Don also regales with us some hilarious anecdotes about working with a host of legends from Barbara Streisand to a young Michael Jackson. ‘She was so ordinary,' he says of Barbara Streisand, ‘but when you hear her sing you run out of goosebumps.' Tune in to hear more. Jewish Book runs at Kings Place from 26th February till 6th March Produced by Audio Coast

Today we are talking about The Penguin Corps with Stu Keroff and Students from the Penguin Corps. TalkingDrupal.com/329 Topics Stephen - AZ trip Nic - Computer build Stu - Back to school Favorite things Rania Grade 7 Walking up and down stairs 10 times to get to sleep Michael - Grade 7 Sports, Basketball or Swim Cam - Grade 7 Working on cars, 1986 Ford Mustang Geoffrey - Grade 6 Soccer Nithya - Grade 6 Reading Penguin Corps How it got started Getting support Why Linux Computers in the classroom Importance Digital Divide Hardware Donations Beyond the classroom Corporate support Resources Linux Club Guide Charlie Reisinger Antioch house Floss Desktops for Kids Guests Stu Keroff - @studoeslinux Rania Michael Cam Geoffrey Nithya Hosts Nic Laflin - www.nLighteneddevelopment.com @nicxvan John Picozzi - www.epam.com @johnpicozzi Stephen Cross - @stephencross

Welcome back to My Seven Wonders with Clive Anderson! Each week, Clive welcomes a famous guest and dives into the depths of their character with one simple question: if you could choose your own seven wonders of the world, what would they be?Michael Grade, or Baron Grade of Yarmouth, started out working for the sports section of The Daily Mirror but soon joined the family showbiz business at the age of 23. Since then, Lord Grade has gone on to represent a wide variety of talent such as Morecambe and Wise and Bruce Forsyth as well as holding key positions within the entertainment industry. In this episode, he regales Clive with many a showbiz tale as well as revealing some surprising wonders along the way.If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Businessman, television consultant and former theatrical agent Ian Freeman was born into what was then considered the most powerful dynasty in entertainment. Lew Grade, a former Russian Charleston dancer, secured the rights for Britain's first commercial television network in 1955 and together with London Palladium manager Val Parnell established Associated Television (ATV). This wasn't the only Grade family business that was thriving as during the early 1930's Lew and his brother Leslie had created The Grade Organisation which would become one of the most prolific talent agencies in the world. Ian promptly joined the organisation as a junior theatrical agent in 1968 working under the formidable entertainment agent Cyril Berlin who was specifically responsible for such stars as Des O'Connor, Lonnie Donnagan and Ted Rogers. This was a true powerhouse of entertainment and anyone who was anyone wanted to be associated with the Grade's. It was a great grounding for Ian and there's not a day that goes by where he doesn't use a piece of knowledge that he learned during these four glorious years. Surrounded by significant figures within the development of British Light Entertainment who are somewhat sadly forgotten about today including Billy Marsh, Kenneth Earle and Peter Prichard, Ian was in the perfect environment to learn about the fine workings of theatrical representation. After four years at the Grade Organisation, Ian made a significant move into the Leisure industry with his cousin Michael Grade. To Ian, Leisure and entertainment go hand in hand as you're essentially providing a service and everyone is constantly on show. Their company First Leisure was founded in 1986 and quickly expanded to music bars and seaside attractions. As Ian explains, running a nightclub can be compared with being the director of a big budget variety show for the simple reason that the aim is for everyone to have the best possible time and every member of the production company knows their role. Providing entertainment is what the Grade's have been bred on so Ian found it easy to adapt and customise the execution of the entertainment performance to cater for different audiences. Such a formula proved lucrative and for over a decade First Leisure was one of the most popular entertainment outlets in Britain. Yet the stars kept calling him back into the spotlight… Having enjoyed a long association with the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund ever since his uncle; Bernard Delfont was made life president in 1962, Ian has always felt close to the charity. In 2007 he was honoured when he was asked to become the honorary treasurer of the EABF, now the Royal Variety Charity, raising money for unfortunate people throughout the UK. Primarily established to help and support entertainers who had fallen on hard times, the Royal Variety Charity has a responsibility to look after those who might be down on their luck and in need of a helping hand. The theatrical residential home; Brinsworth House in Twickenham is funded through profits from the Royal Variety Performance and other charity events throughout the year. This is something that Ian remains extremely proud of and the emotional attachment to the charity makes it so much more than a job.

The Right Honourable Lord Grade of Yarmouth, otherwise known as media executive and businessman Michael Grade, joins Esther Rantzen and Adrian Mills in this week's episode discussing all the gossip from his years as an agent, Live Aid, Morecambe and Wise, killing off Doctor Who and his current work in the House of Lords. For his chosen charity, Michael Grade talks about Sepsis Trust and speaks to guest caller John about his experience. https://www.sepsistrust.org/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For Michael Grade, a distinguished and highly successful career in showbusiness appeared to be in the genes. Born in 1943 in London, England, his father was Leslie Grade and his uncles were Lew Grade and Bernard Delfont. Michael became a trainee journalist on the Daily Mirror in 1960, before becoming deputy controller of entertainment programmes at London Weekend Television in 1973. In 1984, he gained one of the most prestigious positions in British broadcasting when he became controller of BBC One and BBC TV's director of programmes two years later. In 1988, he was named chief executive at Channel 4, responsible for bringing ER and Friends to British TV. He left in 1997 and has since taken major roles at numerous companies, including Ocado, Camelot and the Millennium Dome project. He was appointed chairman of the BBC in 2004 and executive chairman of ITV in 2007. His remarkably successful career in broadcasting was recognised by a CBE in 1998, and a life peerage in 2011.

Lord Michael Grade is one of the most recognised names in television. With a background in light entertainment, he started his broadcasting career at LWT in 1973. Dominating the British entertainment industry for five decades, he has held the hat-trick of top television jobs – chief executive of Channel 4, chairman of the BBC, and executive chairman of ITV – as well as a chairman at Pinewood Studios. He was awarded a CBE for services to broadcasting in 1998 and was made a life peer in 2011. In this in-depth interview, he recalls the highs and lows of his five decades in the industry, explains why he left a lucrative role at Embassy Television in the US and took “the biggest pay cut in history” to become controller of BBC1, and discusses one of the proudest moments of his career – his involvement in the groundbreaking Live Aid concert.

In what can only be described as the universe screwing with us, and because the world of Doctor Who seems to be in lockdown, we have precisely one and a half items of news today, the content of which we shall not divulge in order to create a questionable air of tension before the main event…Fluid Links! Yes, enjoy the Three Who Rule’s shaky insights as we field questions from you, the listeners! Links: – Forbidden Planet Target book signing – Moffat, RTD and Michael Grade

Christopher Cook in conversation with: Speaker: Dominic Symonds Singer: Will Barratt Pianist: Murray Hipkin Speaker: Neil Robinson Michael Linnit and Michael Grade with English National Opera present Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CAROUSEL Starring Katherine Jenkins and Alfie Boe. A Semi-Staged Version Directed by Lonny Price Find out more about ENO's pre-performance talks on our website: www.eno.org/talks

Jon shares his dream about Steven Moffat with everyone.0:20 Jon's Dream Diary4:27 Michael Grade puts us on HiatusOpening Narration by Richard B Brookes (@richardbbrookes)Contact us with questions and ideas: MilkTwoSugarsPodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Twitter:Milk, Two Sugars - @M2SCast Billy - @BillyTreacy93Jon - @GingerAnimator

Jon shares his dream about Steven Moffat with everyone.0:20 Jon's Dream Diary4:27 Michael Grade puts us on HiatusOpening Narration by Richard B Brookes (@richardbbrookes)Contact us with questions and ideas: MilkTwoSugarsPodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Twitter:Milk, Two Sugars - @M2SCast Billy - @BillyTreacy93Jon - @GingerAnimator

Michael Grade and Gia Milinovich talk to Harriett Gilbert about their favourite books.

As the government's long-awaited White Paper on the future of the BBC is published, Steve Hewlett talks to the leading players about what it actually says. Will it mark the end of the BBC as we know it? Or has all the hype been misplaced? Steve speaks to Culture Secretary John Whittingdale, before asking a panel of experts what these plans really mean for the future of the corporation. He's joined by former Culture Secretary Dame Tessa Jowell; Michael Grade, who was chairman of the BBC from 2004 to 2006 and executive chairman of ITV from 2007 to 2009; former BBC Trustee, David Liddiment, who is also founder of All3 Media, and Tim Suter, once of Ofcom and the DCMS - and the BBC, and now a broadcasting consultant. Producer: Katy Takatsuki.

Long Matthew Sweet looks at the founding of the Dada movement 100 years ago in Zurich, as the city celebrates the anniversary with a series of exhibitions and cabarets which run throughout the year. New Generation Thinker Will Abberley visits an exhibition in Oxford that plays with our notion of time as Modern Art Oxford begins a year-long celebration of 50 years, Kaleidoscope, with a show called The Indivisible Present. Janet Street Porter and Michael Grade debate when does a celebrity become a 'national treasure', and what exactly does the term mean?

Matthew Sweet looks at the founding of the Dada movement 100 years ago in Zurich, as the city celebrates the anniversary with a series of exhibitions and cabarets which run throughout the year. New Generation Thinker Will Abberley visits an exhibition in Oxford that plays with our notion of time as Modern Art Oxford begins a year-long celebration of 50 years, Kaleidoscope, with a show called The Indivisible Present. Janet Street Porter and Michael Grade debate when does a celebrity become a 'national treasure', and what exactly does the term mean?

Matthew Sweet looks at the founding of the Dada movement 100 years ago in Zurich, as the city celebrates the anniversary with a series of exhibitions and cabarets which run throughout the year. New Generation Thinker Will Abberley visits an exhibition in Oxford that plays with our notion of time as Modern Art Oxford begins a year-long celebration of 50 years, Kaleidoscope, with a show called The Indivisible Present. Janet Street Porter and Michael Grade debate when does a celebrity become a 'national treasure', and what exactly does the term mean?

Not a risk-taker by nature, Michael Grade has always been fascinated by those who are. In the final interview of his series he talks to Chris Hunter about his career as a high threat bomb disposal officer. What attracts someone to such a dangerous business and how do friends and family deal with their anxiety? Producer Lucy Lunt.

Michael Grade has always been fascinated by those who choose to take great risks. Michael was born into an immigrant family who risked everything to find a new life in an unknown country. In this programme for the interview series One to One, he talks to Juno Roche who also took the same leap of faith into a new world when she transitioned two years ago. Juno says that in choosing to change sex the risk is all encompassing, 'You have no idea what awaits you on the other side. Will you be able to walk down the street without being labelled a freak? Will you have any friends or family who will accept you?' Producer: Lucy Lunt.

The playwright Dennis Potter died twenty years ago. Matthew Sweet reassesses the legacy of the author of 'The Singing Detective' and 'Pennies from Heaven' and hears from his friends and colleagues, including Michael Grade, Alan Yentob, Melvyn Bragg, Janet Suzman, Kika Markham, Kenith Trodd, Jon Amiel and Tony Garnett.

Norman Lebrecht presents the last of three programmes examining the complex relationship between music and Jewish identity. Spanning thousands of years, from King David and the creation of the Psalms, to composers writing today including Steve Reich and Robert Saxton, Norman uncovers a wealth of fascinating stories about the role music has played at some of the key points in Jewish history. Taking as his starting point the moment at which the Jews were finally able to enter the Western classical music tradition in a professional capacity, in today's programme Norman investigates the idea of a "Jewish thumbprint" in the music of Mendelssohn and others. Leading Israeli composer Noam Sheriff and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas talk about why Mahler's Jewishness speaks so strongly to them through his symphonies, and Michael Grade explains how the Jewish art of being one step ahead impacted so strongly on the entertainment industry in the twentieth century.

Norman Lebrecht presents the second of three programmes examining the complex relationship between music and Jewish identity. Women, in the Jewish religion, are not meant to sing, and yet Jewish women have shrugged off that inhibition to become some of the most powerful figures in the popular imagination. We hear from some of the most successful women singing in Israel and indeed on the world stage today, including the eighth-generation Yiddish singer Myriam Fuks and Achinoam Nini, the latest in a long line of iconic Jewish women of Yemenite origin. Michael Grade remembers his grandmother's passion for Sophie Tucker, and the promoter Harvey Goldsmith explains why Jewish women have had such a huge impact on music over the past half century. We also hear from Dr Tova Gamliel about the extraordinarily powerful role of women in the religious practices of Yemen.

Mediabeat - Episode 7Show notes/Sources:Glenn Greenwald's new website launches with fresh NSA revelationshttp://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/feb/10/the-intercept-glenn-greenwald-nsa-revelationsBenefits Street ending pulls in 4.5 millionhttp://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/feb/11/benefits-street-tv-ratings-channel-4-love-productionMichael Grade calls for smaller BBChttp://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/feb/11/michael-grade-bbc-channel-4 BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow to step down after 5 yearshttp://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a550312/bbc-two-controller-janice-hadlow-to-step-down-after-5-years.html?rssExclusive: Flappy Bird Creator Dong Nguyen Says App 'Gone Forever' Because It Was 'An Addictive Product'http://www.forbes.com/sites/lananhnguyen/2014/02/11/exclusive-flappy-bird-creator-dong-nguyen-says-app-gone-forever-because-it-was-an-addictive-product/

With Mark Lawson. The death of the singer Andy Williams at the age of 84 was announced today. Michael Grade pays tribute to one of the most high-profile performers of the 1960s and 1970s, and we hear the voice of Andy Williams himself, recalling his early career, from a Front Row interview in 2007. Matt Bellamy and Dom Howard from the band Muse reflect on their new album, and how it's influenced by science, and discuss the pressures of performing at the Olympic closing ceremony. And after 18 years together, they also consider tensions within the band and their gruelling tour schedules. This year - in celebration of the Olympics - the BBC's annual National Short Story Award has become the BBC International Short Story Award. Front Row is interviewing the 10 authors shortlisted for the £15,000 prize. Tonight novelists Carrie Tiffany and Julian Gough discuss their stories, to be broadcast tomorrow and on Friday. Producer Nicki Paxman.

Damien Hirst at the Tate Modern; Michael Grade on broadcasting; TV series Undateables; rapper Labrinth; Graham Coxon on Blur's Olympic gig in August author Tom Holland and Thomas Campbell, British director of the Metropolitan Museum.

With Mark Lawson. A major Damien Hirst retrospective exhibition opens this week at Tate Modern. Damien Hirst discusses his success and the reaction he gets from cab-drivers, and critic Jackie Wullschlager gives her verdict. In his new film This Must Be The Place, Sean Penn is almost unrecognisable as Cheyenne, a fifty year-old Goth and former rock star, who sets off on a journey of discovery after his father's death. Jenny McCartney reviews. Michael Grade has held top positions at the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. He's now presenting a Radio 2 series examining Britain's television industry. The former BBC Chairman discusses commissioning Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective in the BBC toilets, being asked to lower ratings at ITV, and the moment he thought that Bob Geldof had ended his career. Producer Rebecca Nicholson.

Michael Grade was chairman of the BBC and then ITV and is now heading to the House of Lords. Last week, he suggested that Channel 4 should drop its adverts and that licence fee payers should take over its funding. As a new Conservative peer, what changes would he try to bring about in the TV industry? With traditional journalism, many of this week's stories from Wikileaks could have commanded their own headlines and front page coverage for days. How far does the volume of stories work affect their impact and the ability of journalists to call the relevant people to account. In effect, is Wikileaks burying its own bad news? Columnist Ian Birrell discusses this with Janine Gibson, editor of the Guardian website.And, as Virgin Media launches its new video on demand service, TiVo, Steve asks chief executive Neil Berkett whether there really is a demand for this service. The producer is Simon Tillotson.

A Special Halloween PoemWith Apologies to AEP.The Raving (Bloke)  Once upon the 80's dreary, while I watched all weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious vhs of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.' Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, `Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was watching television when you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; - Michael Grade, and nothing more. Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered words, `Doctor Who No More!' This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, ` Doctor Who No More?' Merely this and nothing more.   Much I marvelled this ungainly felow hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with seeing Grade at his chamber door - Man or beast above the head of pertwee above his chamber door, With such vermance came his word again `Nevermore.' `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if  BBC director or devil! – Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted - On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore - Is there - is there no hope for my timelord? - tell me - tell me, I implore!' Laughed the Controler `Nevermore!' With just these words he few away.   And the BBC, never failing, still is sitting on the rights evermore, still is plotting scemeing, waiting a man, a  man to rap at my chamber door.   And This man, - lets call him Russel- his eyes a dreaming,  Dreaming of his common myth. And the New controller will hold promice, dreams of blue lamp-light flashing; And my soul rises from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Doctor Who – For ever more!

Hints and tips for media appearances and public speaking. This week; Joe Cocker; Beam Me Up Scotty; Michael Grade; That's Amore; Playing Poker; Muzak

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is television executive Michael Grade. As a member of the famous Grade dynasty, he grew up in the showbiz atmosphere of London's West End. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about being brought up by his formidable grandmother after his mother left him when he was very young; and about his career, which has taken him from Daily Mirror sports journalist to Hollywood producer, to the Controller of BBC1 and to his present position as the Chief Executive of Channel 4.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Beim Schlafengehen Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss Book: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Luxury: Sports results

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is television executive Michael Grade. As a member of the famous Grade dynasty, he grew up in the showbiz atmosphere of London's West End. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about being brought up by his formidable grandmother after his mother left him when he was very young; and about his career, which has taken him from Daily Mirror sports journalist to Hollywood producer, to the Controller of BBC1 and to his present position as the Chief Executive of Channel 4. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Beim Schlafengehen Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss Book: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Luxury: Sports results