Replacing Grade: Possible Candidates

With the news that Michael Grade is to step down from his role as Chief Executive of ITV the hunt for his successor begins and no doubt they’ll be endless speculation in the press about possible replacements for Grade. So here are a few people we think could be in the running for the job.

Greg Dyke

It would be the height of irony if Dyke was chosen as Grade’s replacement as it was Grade was one of the replacements at the BBC following the Hutton Whitewash. Although it was Mark Thompson who took over Dyke’s role Grade also rejoined the BBC as the Chairman after Gavyn Davies resigned following the Hutton report. So if Dyke took over from Grade it would be somewhat a reversal in fortunes for Grade. However, Dyke recently criticised Grade and ITV in a recent article in The Times which has since become a legal issue with Grade considering suing over certain allegations made in the article. So with this spat going-on it seems unlikely that ITV would pick Dyke to replace Grade and if they did it could be perceived as a slap in the face for Grade. On Dyke’s side is his time at the BBC in which he turned around the fortunes of the corporation and made it a force to be reckoned with once more.

His down-fall, the sexed up dossier allegations and the Hutton white-wash which followed, was unfortunate but we dare say the majority of the public sided with him. After all no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq. Dyke has twice lead a consortium which tried to take-over ITV though both bids failed it has demonstrated his interest in the broadcaster and belief he can turn it around.

Peter Fincham

Currently the Director of Television at ITV who was bought in by Grade to help revive the flagging fortunes of the channel. Since joining Fincham has axed several programmes and dramas but also re-commissioned The Fixer and Moving Wallpaper despite disappointing ratings as he saw potential in both shows. However, after the poor performance of Moving Wallpaper’s second season it’s unlikely it’ll be back for year three. Fincham came to ITV after being head of BBC One during one of its more successful times though his down-fall, the “Queens-gate” scandal, is a mark against his name.

The fallout from that led to a whole series of revelations about deception and deceit right across television with ITV particularly at fault. The full effects of Fincham’s appointment at ITV have yet to be felt but his focus on entertainment programmes, such as The X-Factor, will likely most pay off and deliver ratings but will leave him open to criticism about the lack of prime-time drama’s, documentaries and current affairs programmes on ITV.

Mark Thompson

Currently the Director General of the BBC and worked with Grade while he was Chairman of the BBC before his defection to ITV. As Grade and Thompson have worked together previously he could be seen as an ideal candidate as a move to ITV would see him work once more with Grade. However, Grade’s defection to ITV may have soured their relationship. Thompson’s time at the BBC has been a mixed bag with controversies such as the “Queens-gate” scandal, and the deception scandal following on from that, being two marks against him as well as “Sachs-gate” and the BBC Two broadcast of Jerry Springer: The Opera was the most complained about programme ever to feature on the BBC.

However, in the broadcast’s defence the majority of these complaints were received before it even aired and were based on tabloid hysteria. Thompson’s time at the BBC has also seen job cuts and programming cut backs which have made him unpopular with some within the corporation. As ITV is currently cutting jobs, programmes and closing studio’s the staff need someone to come in boost morale not someone who has been doing the same sort of thing at a rival broadcaster.