Michael Grade's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Grumpy Old Men (UK) Michael Grade The Story of Light Entertainment (UK) Michael Grade

Main Movie Roles

BIOGRAPHY:

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 (he was their sports columnist 1964 - 1966). In 1973 he became deputy controller of entertainment programmes at London Weekend Television. In 1984 Michael gained one of the most prestigious positions in British broadcasting when he became controller of BBC One. He became BBC TV's director of programmes two years later. During his brief but significant stint at the BBC he was noted for his brave and controversial decisions, which included delaying production for 18 months of the corporation's long running science fiction series "Doctor Who" (1963) (which he openly criticised in interviews) and commissioning the controversial Dennis Potter (I) play "The Singing Detective" (1986). He was also the man who recognised the potential of the new soap opera "EastEnders" (1985), which he gave a prominent twice-weekly slot, and broadcast the Live Aid (1985) (TV) rock concert. Another success during Grade's time was "Blackadder II" (1986), which he commissioned on the condition it would be an improvement on "The Black Adder" (1983), which he judged an expensive failure. His tenure was notable for boosting BBC One's ratings, not least through the introduction of several popular and long-lasting soap operas. As well as "EastEnders" (1985), there was the seafaring soap opera "Howards' Way" (1985), "Casualty" (1986) and the Australian import "Neighbours" (1985). In 1988 he became chief executive at Channel 4 television. During this time he was to face unprecedented levels of criticism and the channel's output earned him the label "the pornographer-in-chief" from the Daily Mail newspaper. But Michael was also responsible for bringing the hugely popular American series' "ER" (1994) and "Friends" (1994) to British TV. He eventually left Channel 4 in 1997. He has since taken major roles at numerous companies, including First Leisure, Camelot and the Millennium Dome project. He was appointed Chairman of the BBC in 2004. His remarkable achievements in broadcasting were recognised by a CBE in 1998. Always a busy man, Michael's favourite leisure pursuit is sailing.


TRIVIA:

• Brother of agent 'Anita Land (II)' (qv).
• Loves opera.
• He is often erroneously referred to as the BBC One controller who cancelled the original series of _"Doctor Who" (1963)_ (qv). Actually, he put it on an 18 month hiatus in 1985 and brought it back in September 1986. He also made the decision to remove 'Colin Baker (I)' (qv) from the lead role in 1986. The series was actually permanently cancelled by his successor as BBC One controller, 'Jonathan Powell (I)' (qv), in 1989, two years after Grade had left the BBC.
• Appointed Chairman of the BBC in April 2004. Left in November 2006 to become executive chairman of the corporation's chief rival, ITV.
• Nephew of 'Lew Grade' (qv) and 'Bernard Delfont' (qv) and son of 'Leslie Grade' (qv).
• An Associate Member of RADA.
• Son, Samuel, with third wife Francesca.
• He was interviewed for the job of Director-General of the BBC in 1987.