Editing Michael Grade

{{Short description|English television executive and businessman (born 1943)}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix   = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name               = The Lord Grade of Yarmouth
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}}
| image              = File:Official portrait of Lord Grade of Yarmouth crop 2, 2023.jpg
| caption            = Official portrait, 2023
| office             = Chairman of [[Ofcom]]
| status             = 
| term_start         = 1 May 2022
| predecessor         = [[Maggie Carver]] (acting)
| office1            = [[Chairman of the BBC|Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC]] 
| term_start1        = 17 May 2004
| term_end1          = 28 November 2006
| predecessor1       = [[The Lord Ryder of Wensum]] (acting)
| successor1         = [[Anthony Salz]] (acting)
| office2            = [[Member of the House of Lords]]<br/>[[Lord Temporal]]
| term_start2        = 27 January 2011<br/>[[Life peerage]]
| term_end2          = 
| birth_name         = Michael Ian Grade
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1943|3|8|df=y}}
| birth_place        = London, England
| known              = 
| boards             = 
| employer           = 
| party              = [[Crossbencher|Crossbench]]
| otherparty         = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (until 2022)
| spouse             = {{ubl
| {{marriage|Penelope Levinson|1967|1981|reason=divorced}}
| {{marriage|[[Sarah Lawson (producer)|Sarah Lawson]]|1982|1991|reason=divorced}}
| {{marriage|Francesca Leahy|1998}}
}}
| children           = 3
| father             = [[Leslie Grade]]
| relatives          = {{Plainlist|
* [[Lew Grade]] (uncle)
* [[Bernard Delfont]] (uncle)
}}
| education          = [[Stowe School]]<br>[[St Dunstan's College]]
| occupation         = Television executive, businessman
}}

'''Michael Ian Grade, Baron Grade of Yarmouth''' (born 8 March 1943) is an English [[Media proprietor|television executive]] and businessman. He has held a number of senior roles in television, including controller of [[BBC1]] (1984–1986), chief executive of [[Channel 4]] (1988–1997), [[Chairman of the BBC|chairman of the board of governors of the BBC]] (2004–2006), and executive chairman of [[ITV plc]] (2007–2009).<ref name="BBC2009stepdown">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8013801.stm|title=Grade to step down as ITV chief|date=23 April 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=23 April 2009}}</ref> He sat as a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] [[life peer]] in the [[House of Lords]] from 2011 until after his appointment as chair of [[Ofcom]], beginning in May 2022, and moved to the crossbenches.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Lord Grade is confirmed as the new Ofcom Chair |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lord-grade-is-confirmed-as-the-new-ofcom-chair |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Grade was born into a [[Jewish]] show business family originally called Winogradsky.<ref name="Freedland">{{cite web |url=https://www.thejc.com/life-and-culture/interview-michael-grade-two0vkxx |title=Interview: Michael Grade |work=The Jewish Chronicle |accessdate=2024-02-20}}</ref> His father was the theatrical agent [[Leslie Grade]], and his uncles were the impresarios [[Lew Grade]] and [[Bernard Delfont]].<ref name="transdiffusion">{{cite web |author=Glenn Aylett |url=http://www.transdiffusion.org/emc/tvheroes/michael_grade.php |title=Michael Grade – the most popular media mogul in Britain |work=Transdiffusion.org |access-date=6 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011101447/http://www.transdiffusion.org/emc/tvheroes/michael_grade.php |archive-date=11 October 2011}}</ref> When he was three years old, his non-Jewish mother (Lynn Smith) left the family to conduct a relationship with wrestling commentator [[Kent Walton]]. Grade was brought up by his paternal grandmother, and he only saw his mother once more as an adult.<ref name="Freedland"/> He was educated at [[Stowe School]] in Buckinghamshire and [[St Dunstan's College]] in London.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/michael-grade-has-his-time-finally-come-567811.html | title=Michael Grade: Has his time finally come? | work=The Independent | first=Ian | last=Burrell | date=27 March 2004 | access-date=31 May 2025}}</ref>

==Career==
Grade joined the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' in 1960, and was a sports columnist from 1964 to 1966. By his own account (as related on [[Channel 4]] chat show ''The Late [[Clive James]]''), the job had been organised by his father. When Leslie Grade suffered a serious stroke in 1966, the 23-year-old Michael moved into his theatrical business. In 1969, he moved to London Management & Representation. Among the artists whom Grade represented were [[Morecambe and Wise]] (he successfully negotiated the duo's defection from [[Associated Television|ATV]] to [[BBC2]] in 1968) and [[Larry Grayson]].

===LWT===
Grade entered the television industry in 1973 when he joined [[London Weekend Television]] (LWT) as deputy controller of programmes (entertainment).<ref name="Newcomb">Steve Bryant "Grade, Michael (1943– )" in Horace Newcomb (ed.) ''Encyclopedia of Television''], Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2004, pp. 1020–21</ref> During this time he bought the scripts of an African-American<!-- Contemoporary usage in 1976. --> sitcom ''[[Good Times]]'' which had an all-black cast.<ref>Howard Malchow [https://books.google.com/books?id=l8xT0epJ5OoC&pg=PA189 ''Special Relations: The Americanization of Britain?''], Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2011, p.189</ref> Adapted as ''[[The Fosters (1976 TV series)|The Fosters]]'' (1976–1977), it became the first British sitcom to have an entirely black cast. At LWT, Grade worked with both [[John Birt]] and [[Greg Dyke]].

After he became director of programmes in 1977, Grade commissioned the series ''[[Mind Your Language]]'', but later cancelled it. At an event at the [[Edinburgh International Television Festival|Edinburgh Television Festival]] in 1985, he agreed that the series was racist, and said that "it was really irresponsible of us to put it out".<ref>Sarita Malik [https://books.google.com/books?id=kY_xA-5d1VkC&pg=PA97 ''Representing Black Britain: Black and Asian Images on Television''], Thousand Oaks, California: Sage, 2002, p.97</ref> In what was termed 'Snatch of the Day' by the press in 1978, Grade attempted the acquisition of exclusive screening rights to [[The Football League|Football League]] matches. Previously the BBC had held the more desirable rights, but the [[Office of Fair Trading]] intervened, and Grade's purchase was revoked. The package of recorded highlights on Saturday evenings now alternates each season between ITV and the BBC.<ref>Tim Bradford [https://books.google.com/books?id=an7Vc7XIXsYC&pg=PT822 ''When Saturday Comes''], London: Penguin, 2005, pp. 882–83<!-- Page number retrieved from the html address, but the Kindle edition has only 477 pages. --></ref>

Also in 1978, Grade managed to place under contract the entertainer [[Bruce Forsyth]] who had helped the BBC to dominate the Saturday evening television ratings through the decade via ''[[The Generation Game]]'' series. His new vehicle was titled ''Bruce Forsyth's Big Night'' and was intended to feature all his talents in one programme lasting two hours. The budget was £2million for a fourteen-week run.<ref>Jules Stenson [https://books.google.com/books?id=i_gpoToGeywC&pg=PT91 ''Brucie: The Biography of Sir Bruce Forsyth''], London: John Blake Publishing, p.88</ref> The new series was considered a disaster, with the press turning against the host, but did achieve an initial audience of 14 million.<ref>Bruce Forsyth [https://books.google.com/books?id=XcYLmLuXxYMC&pg=PP198&lpg=PP198 ''Bruce: The Autobiography''], London: Pan, 2001, p.198</ref> ''The Generation Game'', with new host Larry Grayson, managed to achieve a larger audience.<ref>Joe Moran [https://books.google.com/books?id=sfZEAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT195 ''Armchair Nation: An intimate history of Britain in front of the TV''], London: Profile Books, 2013, p.195</ref> LWT's ''Big Night'' was not recommissioned.

Grade announced at a press conference in May 1979 that LWT had secured a contract with a production company formed by television dramatist [[Dennis Potter]] and his producer [[Kenith Trodd]].<ref>John R. Cook [https://books.google.com/books?id=JXi7AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA102 ''Dennis Potter: A Life on Screen''], Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1998, pp. 102–3</ref> The corporate association proved short-lived, with both sides having insufficient experience for budgeting drama shot on film, and was terminated by Grade in the summer of 1980.<ref name="Cook194">Cook ''Dennis Potter'', pp. 194–97</ref> Only three of what had been projected as six filmed plays by Potter were shot and screened.<ref>Humphrey Carpenter ''Dennis Potter'', London: Faber, 1999 [1998], p.394</ref> Grade though, was directly involved with some of the playwright's later commissions.

Grade approved production of ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'' and initiated the long-running arts' programme ''[[The South Bank Show]]''.<ref name="Mason">{{cite news| last=Rowena |first=Mason |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/5206668/Michael-Grade-at-ITV-it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time.html |title=Michael Grade at ITV: it seemed like a good idea at the time |work=The Telegraph |date=23 April 2009 |access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref>

In 1981, Grade left LWT to begin a two-year period as the president of [[Embassy Television]] in the United States. In ''The Times'' he was quoted as stating, "It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; it is, if you like, a gamble I want to take".<ref>{{cite news | title=American TV post for Michael Grade | first=Kenneth | last=Gosling | newspaper=[[The Times]] | date=22 September 1981 | page=12}}</ref> His pay rose from £32,000 to $250,000 per annum.<ref name="Gibson">Janine Gibson and Maggie Brown [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/apr/03/broadcasting.politicsandthemedia3 "Amid the suits, a man who stands out"], ''The Guardian'', 3 April 2004</ref> During this time he was largely involved in developing and selling sitcoms in this period: "When you read 30 or 40 comedy scripts a week, you get a bit barking."<ref name="Freedland"/> Grade also produced a series for the only time in his career, a nine-part adaptation of ''[[Kane and Abel (novel)|Kane and Abel]]'', the novel by [[Jeffrey Archer]]. In a ''[[The Jewish Chronicle|Jewish Chronicle]]'' interview with [[Michael Freedland]] in 2011, Grade said he had "missed public service broadcasting, real drama, news, current affairs".<ref name="Freedland"/>

===BBC===
In early summer 1984, [[Bill Cotton]] recruited Grade for [[BBC Television]],<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sir-bill-cotton-television-executive-who-brought-some-of-the-bbc-s-most-popular-programmes-to-the-screen-892826.html | title= Sir Bill Cotton: Television executive who brought some of the BBC's most popular programmes to the screen | work=The Independent | first=Spencer | last=Leigh | date=13 August 2008 | access-date=5 December 2023}}</ref> where he became controller of <!-- BBC 1 until 1997. -->[[BBC One|BBC 1]] on 1 September 1984,<ref>Top job for Grade at BBC 1: The Times (London, England), Thursday, 31 May 1984</ref><ref>Early-evening ratings war likely if BBC replaces 'Sixty Minutes. Hewson, David The Times (London, England), Wednesday, 6 June 1984, p.3.</ref> taking, as he told Michael Freedland, "the biggest pay cut in history"; his salary went down from $500,000, excluding large bonuses, to £37,000 a year.<ref name="Freedland"/> Later he became director of programmes in 1986,<ref name="Newcomb"/> and managing director designate in 1987, before leaving the BBC at the end of 1987. His three-year tenure as a BBC controller was controversial.

Grade cancelled the rights to screen ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'' while fighting [[Thames Television]] for the rights to the series (although this decision was subsequently reversed). He cut short the expensive serialisation of ''[[The Tripods]]'' trilogy, written by [[Samuel Youd|John Christopher]], because he was dissatisfied with the ratings it had achieved after two series. He also considered cancelling the sitcom ''[[Blackadder]]'', judging the first series to be unfunny.<ref name="Gibson"/> In exchange for renewing ''Blackadder'', he required that it become a wholly studio-based production on a lower budget.<ref>Mark Lewisohn {{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/b/blackadderii_7770765.shtml |title=Blackadder II |access-date=8 April 2005 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050408060711/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/b/blackadderii_7770765.shtml |archive-date=8 April 2005 }}, BBC Guide to Comedy (c.2003) via the Wayback Machine</ref>

Grade agreed to commission [[Dennis Potter]]'s serial ''[[The Singing Detective]]'' (1986) after a brief meeting with [[Jonathan Powell (producer)|Jonathan Powell]], then the BBC's head of drama.<ref name="Midgley">{{cite magazine |first=Neil |last=Midgley |title=Michael Grade: 'I think the BBC has become too bureaucratic' |magazine=Radio Times |date=2 April 2012}}</ref> It was a highlight of this period, but came under criticism from [[Mary Whitehouse]] and the tabloid press for its content.<ref>Carpenetr ''Dennis Potter'', pp. 455–56</ref> Referring to the depiction of an illicit sexual encounter in episode three, Grade said: "There are very few people in television drama that you are prepared to trust with scenes like this. But Dennis Potter is one of them".<ref>Cited in Cook ''Dennis Potter: A Life on Screen'', p.242</ref>

During his time as controller, Grade was also responsible for purchasing the Australian soap opera ''[[Neighbours]]'' for BBC1's new [[Daytime television|daytime]] schedule; it debuted on British television on 27 October 1986. He was also responsible for repeating ''Neighbours'', at first exclusively an afternoon programme, in a later [[timeslot]] (on the advice of his daughter, Alison, who was annoyed that she could not watch it because she was at school). This proved to be a successful scheduling decision, with audiences in excess of 18&nbsp;million for the new 5.35&nbsp;pm broadcasts. Other successes during Grade's tenure included the debut of soap operas ''[[EastEnders]]'' and ''[[Howards' Way]]'' in 1985 and the hospital drama ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'' in 1986. He was also praised by [[Bob Geldof]] for agreeing to broadcast the charity rock concert [[Live Aid]] for 24 hours.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/michael-grade-right-man-sort-fundraising/fundraising/article/1376816 | title= Is Michael Grade the right man to sort out fundraising? | work=[[Third Sector (magazine)|Third Sector]] | first=John | last=Plummer | date=17 December 2015 | access-date=11 June 2020}}</ref>

In November 1984 he decided to end screening [[beauty pageants]], stating, "I believe these contests no longer merit national air time. They are an anachronism in this day and age of equality and verging on the offensive."<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/18/arts/bbc-to-stop-televising-beauty-pageants.html | title= BBC to Stop Televising Beauty Pageants | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=18 November 1984 | access-date=2 February 2021}}</ref>

====''Doctor Who'' controversy====
Grade announced on 27 February 1985 that [[Doctor Who season 23|season 23]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', which was scheduled to be transmitted from January to March 1986, would be postponed as he had decided that the programme's budget would be better spent on other drama productions.<ref>{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Cook |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2012/feb/28/doctor-who-television |title=From the archive, 28 February 1985: Doctor Who fans upset as BBC postpones new series |work=The Guardian |date=28 February 2012}}</ref> What became an 18-month hiatus for ''Doctor Who'' (the series did not resume transmission until September 1986) prompted a strong reaction from viewers. Grade was also noted for his strong dislike of the series, such as in an interview in 2004, where he said: "I thought it was horrible, awful. I thought it was so outdated. It was just a little show for a few pointy head ''Doctor Who'' fans. It was also very violent and it had lost its magic".<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2005/04/25/feature_michael_grade_feature.shtml | title= Michael Grade interview | work=BBC News | access-date=22 April 2014}}</ref> In an appearance on the BBC's ''[[Room 101 (British TV series)|Room 101]]'' in 2002, Grade chose the series as one of his hates, criticised its production values and said that he had little interest in, or sympathy for, science fiction.

[[Eric Saward]], the [[script editor]] of ''Doctor Who'' at the time of its suspension, responded to Grade's criticism a few years later. In his view, Grade's comments were unfair because he was in the position to allocate more resources to the programme and thus improve its quality.<ref>During the [[audio commentary]] of the 2008 DVD of the ''Doctor Who'' serial ''[[Warriors of the Deep]]''.</ref> Actress [[Katy Manning]], who had portrayed [[Jo Grant|a companion]] of [[Jon Pertwee]]'s Doctor, praised Grade's treatment of the series on the DVD commentary for ''[[The Mind of Evil]]'' (1971). In her view, Grade "was actually doing the right thing", and she credited the long break prior to 2005 with rejuvenating the series.<ref>Voice-over commentary on the BBC DVD "[[The Mind of Evil]]" (1971, 2013)</ref>

The decision in the autumn of 1986 that [[Doctor Who season 24|season 24]] of ''Doctor Who'' could only happen on the condition that [[Colin Baker]] was removed from the [[The Doctor (Doctor Who)|title role]] has been attributed to Grade, with him reportedly describing Baker's portrayal as "absolutely God-awful". It has also been suggested that Grade was influenced by a romantic relationship with Baker's ex-wife, [[Liza Goddard]].<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |title=He eats, sleeps and breathes television – and at last he's got round to watching some |work=The Telegraph |date=3 January 2009 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3638380/He-eats-sleeps-and-breathes-television-and-at-last-hes-got-round-to-watching-some.html |access-date=12 January 2009  |first=William |last=Langley}}</ref> In 2022, Grade denied both that the decision to fire Baker was his and any personal relationship with Goddard.<ref name=Conversation>{{cite AV media |date=2022 |title=''Doctor Who'': The Collection Season 22 |chapter=Michael Grade in Conversation |type=special feature |publisher=[[BBC Studios]]}}</ref> Baker's immediate predecessor in the role, [[Peter Davison]], argued in 2018 that the decision to dismiss the actor was more to do with the executives wanting to get rid of the series' producer, [[John Nathan-Turner]], saying: "I was upset about what happened, really – because, first of all, it wasn't to do with Colin, I know that. It was to do with other issues. The power structure in the BBC had changed and they didn't want John Nathan-Turner around is the truth of it."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a871595/peter-davison-doctor-who-exit-dodged-bullet/ |title=Doctor Who star Peter Davison thinks he 'dodged a bullet' by quitting when he did |work=[[Digital Spy]] |first=Cameron K. |last=McEwan |date=3 December 2018 |access-date=11 June 2020}}</ref>

Following the end of the [[Doctor Who series 1|first series]] of the revived ''Doctor Who'' in 2005, Grade wrote a letter to [[Mark Thompson (media executive)|Mark Thompson]], the [[Director-General of the BBC]], congratulating all involved in the production on its success, signing-off with "PS <!--sic-->never dreamed I would ever write this. Must be going soft!"<ref>{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Dean |title=Doctor Who's greatest enemy finally surrenders |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,3604,1511605,00.html |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=22 June 2005 |access-date=30 November 2006}}</ref> In an interview for ''[[Radio Times]]'' in 2012, Grade commented: "From clunky [[Dalek]]s 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="Midgley"/>

===Channel 4===
Grade left the BBC in 1987 after an unsuccessful application to succeed [[Alasdair Milne]] as director-general and a conflict with the corporation's new deputy director-general, [[John Birt]], a former friend and colleague at London Weekend Television.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1057617/index.html | title= Grade, Michael (1943–) | work=Screenonline | first=Ann | last=Bloss | access-date=29 March 2023}}</ref> He accepted the post of chief executive of [[Channel 4]], succeeding [[Jeremy Isaacs]], and took up his position at the beginning of 1988.<ref name="Newcomb"/> Isaacs criticised Grade's appointment and threatened to "throttle" Grade if the nature of the channel was altered.<ref>Howell Raines [https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/20/arts/london-will-mrs-thatcher-squeeze-beeb-will-british-tv-be-americanized-stay-tuned.html "London: Will Mrs. Thatcher Squeeze the Beeb? Will British TV Be Americanized? Stay Tuned . . . "], ''The New York Times'', 20 December 1987</ref>

Grade phased out some of its more high-brow programming, for which he was accused of "[[dumbing down]]". His 1991 decision to axe the long-running and widely admired discussion series ''[[After Dark (TV programme)|After Dark]]'' is detailed [[After Dark (TV programme)#Channel 4 axing|here]]. Grade stated that in the same week that he moved to Channel 4, it had shown a repeat of the 1984 adaptation of ''[[The Far Pavilions]]'', featuring American actress [[Amy Irving]] "[[Blackface|blacked up]]" as an Indian princess. During this period, he was also criticised by the conservative press: ''[[Daily Mail]]'' columnist [[Paul Johnson (writer)|Paul Johnson]] dubbed him Britain's "[[Pornography|pornographer]]-in-chief".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Michael Grade: Has his time finally come?|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/michael-grade-has-his-time-finally-come-567811.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/michael-grade-has-his-time-finally-come-567811.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=27 March 2004|work=The Independent|last=Burrell|first=Ian|language=en|access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Robinson|first=James|date=18 November 2010|title=Michael Grade in line for peerage|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/nov/18/michael-grade-peerage|access-date=3 May 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In addition to securing talent from the BBC, Grade recognised the improving quality of US television output, making series such as ''[[Friends]]'' and ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]'' the mainstays of the channel's schedule. In 1994, while at Channel 4, he was awarded the [[BAFTA]] fellowship in recognition of "an exceptional contribution" to television.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.bafta.org/about/bafta-fellows | title= Full List of BAFTA Fellows | work=bafta.org | date= 4 February 2020 | access-date=29 March 2023}}</ref>

In 1997, Grade became involved in a dispute with [[Chris Morris (satirist)|Chris Morris]] regarding the satire ''[[Brass Eye]]'' after repeatedly intervening in the production to order edits to various episodes, and rescheduling some instalments for sensitivity. Morris responded by inserting a frame stating "Grade is a cunt" into the final episode of the first run.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/gallery/2009/apr/23/michaelgrade-itv |title=In pictures: Michael Grade's highs and lows |work=The Guardian |last=Dowell |first=Ben |date=23 April 2009 |access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref> In the same year, Grade left Channel 4 to head [[First Leisure Corporation]] but departed two years later following a substantial internal re-structuring. His next job was as the chairman of the new Pinewood and Shepperton film studios company.

===Return to the BBC===
Grade was on the board of the poorly received [[Millennium Dome]] project, and has served as chairman of Octopus Publishing, the [[Camelot Group]], and Hemscott (a position that he intends to relinquish).

Grade had ambitions to become chairman of the [[Board of Governors of the BBC|BBC board of governors]] in 2001, but was beaten to the post by [[Gavyn Davies]]. Following Davies' resignation in the aftermath of the [[Hutton Inquiry]] report, it was announced on 2 April 2004 that Grade had been appointed BBC chairman; his only demand was that he would not have to give up his job as a director of [[Charlton Athletic F.C.]] He took up his post on 17 May.

On 19 September 2006, Grade became non-executive chairman of online food delivery company [[Ocado]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/grade-takes-chair-at-ocado-amid-float-talk-416744.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/grade-takes-chair-at-ocado-amid-float-talk-416744.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Grade takes chair at Ocado amid float talk|date=20 September 2006|work=The Independent|last=Mesure|first=Susie}}</ref> He resigned<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ocado-chairman-idUSL6N0AQEX820130121|title=Michael Grade to step down as Ocado chairman |work=Reuters|access-date=22 May 2013|date=21 January 2013}}</ref> from the role on 23 January 2013, and was succeeded by Sir [[Stuart Rose]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Ruddick|first=Graham|title=Michael Grade to step down from Ocado|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9817103/Michael-Grade-to-step-down-from-Ocado.html|work=The Telegraph|date=22 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-22/ocado-appoints-rose-to-succeed-michael-grade-as-chairman.html|title=Ocado Appoints Rose to Succeed Michael Grade as Chairman|work=Bloomberg|date=22 January 2013|access-date=8 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ocado-chairman-idUKBRE90K0WD20130121 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305214617/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ocado-chairman-idUKBRE90K0WD20130121 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 March 2016 |work=Reuters |first=Paul |last=Sandle |title=Michael Grade to step down as Ocado chairman – FT |date=21 January 2013}}</ref>

===ITV===
On 28 November 2006, Grade and the BBC confirmed that he was to resign from his position within the corporation to replace Sir [[Peter Burt]] as chairman, and [[Charles Allen, Baron Allen of Kensington|Charles Allen]] as chief executive, of one of the companies forming part of its commercial rival, [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. He became executive chairman of [[ITV plc]] on 8 January 2007.

During Grade's tenure, ITV struggled with falling advertising revenue and viewing figures. Upon appointment, Grade announced that his first priority would be to work as a senior partner at ITV Network Limited to improve ITV programming, as well as strengthen its digital channels, [[ITV2]], [[ITV3]], [[ITV4]] and [[CITV]]. On 12 September 2007, Grade announced a controversial five-year re-structuring plan for ITV plc-owned regions,<ref>{{cite news |title=Content is king for ITV's five-year plan |work=The Guardian |date=12 September 2007 |url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/city/story/0,,2167318,00.html |access-date=27 September 2007 |first=Graeme |last=Wearden}}</ref> selecting entertainment as the top priority. A major overhaul of ITV plc's regional structure was also proposed.<ref name="Guardian2">{{cite news |title=Unions slam ITV regional cuts |work=The Guardian |date=12 September 2007 |url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,2167562,00.html |access-date=27 September 2007 |first=Leigh |last=Holmwood}}</ref> The plans would result in the consolidation of the ITV regional news programmes in England, with regions now broadcasting a single service per region rather than multiple, specialised, local services (for example, [[Yorkshire Television|ITV Yorkshire]] would no longer broadcast in separate northern and southern regions). They would also merge fully [[Border Television|ITV Border]] with [[Tyne Tees Television|ITV Tyne Tees]], and [[ITV Wales & West|ITV West]] with [[Westcountry Television|ITV Westcountry]], effectively ending two regions' tenure as independent players within ITV; the proposals have been criticised by [[BECTU]] and the [[National Union of Journalists]].<ref name="Guardian2"/> Any such changes would be subject to approval by [[Ofcom]].

In March 2009, Grade initiated libel action against another television executive, [[Greg Dyke]], and ''[[The Times]]'' newspaper over allegations of improper conduct made by Dyke about Grade, relating to his move from the BBC to ITV in 2006. The newspaper subsequently withdrew the allegations and published an apology, admitting that the allegations had no justification.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/may/01/michael-grade-times-action-greg-dyke |title=Michael Grade: I sued over Dyke piece to protect my reputation for honesty |work=The Guardian |first=Ben |last=Dowell |date=1 May 2009 |access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref>

On 23 April 2009, Grade announced he would be stepping down as chief executive to become non-executive chairman at the conclusion of regulatory reviews into advertising contract rights and digital TV, at some point before the end of 2009.<ref name=BBC2009stepdown/>

===Peerage===
Grade revealed his membership of the [[UK Conservative Party|Conservative Party]] for the first time in May 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/impartiality-is-over-cameron-gets-my-vote-bnxp7vkq9jj |title=Impartiality is over: Cameron gets my vote |work=[[The Times]] |first=Michael |last=Grade |date=4 May 2010 |access-date=29 November 2010}}</ref> On 25 January 2011, he was created a [[life peer]], as Baron Grade of Yarmouth, ''of [[Yarmouth, Isle of Wight|Yarmouth]] in the County of Isle of Wight''.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59685 |date=31 January 2011 |page=1561}}</ref> He was introduced in the [[House of Lords]] on 27 January<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/minutes/110126/ldordpap.htm |title=House of Lords Business for 26 January 2011 |publisher=Publications.parliament.uk |access-date=6 November 2011}}</ref> and sat as a Conservative until moving to the crossbenches as part of his role as chairman of Ofcom.<ref name=":0" />

===Ofcom===
In March 2022, the [[Second Johnson ministry]] appointed Grade to a four-year term as chairman of [[Ofcom]], effective from 1 May 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/24/government-picks-tory-peer-michael-grade-to-chair-ofcom|title=Government picks Tory peer Michael Grade to chair Ofcom|work=The Guardian|last=Waterson|first=Jim|date=24 March 2022|accessdate=25 March 2022}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In June 2022, the BBC's official historian, [[Jean Seaton]], publicy said that Grade "is too lazy, too old, and has too many conflicts of interest", and called his appointment a means of "bullying" the BBC.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=Michael Grade too lazy and old to lead Ofcom, says BBC official historian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/jun/02/michael-grade-too-lazy-old-to-lead-ofcom-jean-seaton-bbc-historian-hay |first=Rachel |last=Hall |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> Noting Grade's public approval of the right-wing political activist [[Laurence Fox]]'s appearance on the BBC's [[Question Time (TV programme)|''Question Time'']],<ref name="PearsonHalliganTelegraph">Allison Pearson, Liam Halligan, and Rhys Gunter (25 February 2021), [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/25/rarely-cheer-television-cheered-laurence-fox-question-time-says/ "I rarely cheer at the television, but I cheered Laurence Fox on Question Time, says former BBC Chairman"] ''The Telegraph''.</ref> journalist [[George Monbiot]] raised concerns about Ofcom's impartiality under his leadership, and following misinformation preceding the [[2024 United Kingdom riots]], Monbiot accused Ofcom of a failure to properly respond to rule-breaking behaviour by outlets such as [[GB News]] "while continuing to enforce [rules] against less partisan media".<ref name="MonbiotGuardian">Monbiot, George (06 August 2024) [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/aug/06/riots-thuggery-14-years-tory-race-baiting "These riots are more than thuggery: they’re the outcome of 14 years of Tory race-baiting"]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 07 August 2024.</ref>

==Personal life==
Grade was appointed a [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] in 1998.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=54993 |date=31 December 1997 |page=9 |supp=y}}</ref> That same year, he published his [[autobiography]], ''It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time'', and married his third wife, Francesca Leahy; they have a son, Samuel.

Grade was previously married to Penelope Jane Levinson (1967–1981) (she later married writer and historian [[Sir Max Hastings]]), by whom he has two children, and [[Sarah Lawson (producer)|Sarah Lawson]] (1982–1991), a film producer.

Grade is a fan of [[Charlton Athletic F.C.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/Sport/Football/News/FACup/Manualstories/ITVFACupstatement/default.html |title=ITV FA Cup statement |work=Itv.com |access-date=6 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609165038/http://www.itv.com/Sport/Football/News/FACup/Manualstories/ITVFACupstatement/default.html |archive-date=9 June 2009 }}</ref>

{{Infobox COA wide
|escutcheon = Per chevron grady Argent and Azure in base a lighthouse between two sails issuing in base Argent and in chief two masks that to the dexter of comedy and that to the sinister of tragedy Azure.
|crest = Rising from the top of a lighthoyse Argent irradiated Or a martlet Azure.
|supporters = Dexter a sea lion sinister a sea horse both Azure with the piscine parts Argent resting on a lightning flash Or.<ref>{{cite book|title=Debrett's Peerage |date=2019 |page=2780}}</ref>}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0333529}}
* {{Screenonline name|id=1057617|name=Michael Grade biography}}
* [http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=024M-C1142X000243-0100V0.xml Michael Grade Interview]{{Spaced ndash}}[[British Library]] sound recording
* [[BBC News Online]]: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6190116.stm Michael Grade Profile]
* BBC News Online: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6189994.stm "Grade Goes Commercial Again"]
* ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'': [https://web.archive.org/web/20080305221124/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/27/cnitv128.xml "Grade Defects to ITV"]
* BBC News Online: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3591985.stm "Michael Grade is New BBC Chairman"]
* ''[[Financial Times]]'': [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/9500944c-7eba-11db-b193-0000779e2340.html Grade's Letter to Staff and BBC Response]
* [[BBC Online]]: [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/11_november/28/grade.shtml BBC Press Release]

{{S-start}}
{{s-media}}
{{Succession box
| title = Controller of [[BBC1]]
| before = [[Alan Hart (television executive)|Alan Hart]]
| after = [[Jonathan Powell (producer)|Jonathan Powell]]
| years = 1984–1987
}}
{{Succession box
| title = Chief Executive of [[Channel 4]]
| before = [[Jeremy Isaacs]]
| after = [[Michael Jackson (television executive)|Michael Jackson]]
| years = 1987–1997
}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Richard Ryder, Baron Ryder of Wensum|The Lord Ryder of Wensum]]<br />{{small|Acting}}}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chairman of the BBC|Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC]]|years=2004–2006}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Anthony Salz]]<br />{{small|Acting}}}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sir Peter Burt]]<br />{{small|''As non-executive chairman''}}<br />[[Charles Allen, Baron Allen of Kensington|Charles Allen]]<br />{{small|''As chief executive''}}}}
{{s-ttl|title=Executive Chairman of [[ITV plc]]|years=2007–2009}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Archie Norman (businessman)|Archie Norman]]}}
{{s-prec|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=[[George Magan, Baron Magan of Castletown|The Lord Magan of Castletown]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom|Gentlemen]]'''<br />''Baron Grade of Yarmouth'' '''}}
{{s-fol|after=[[Jock Stirrup|The Lord Stirrup]]}}
{{S-end}}
<!--Needs to be in all three due to the variety of his activities-->

{{BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award |state=collapsed}}

{{ITV regulatory bodies}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grade, Michael}}
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