Michael Grade — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Baron Grade of Yarmouth, a Conservative Party life peer in the House of Lords from 2011 to 2022.
Chair of Ofcom, beginning in May 2022.
Served as controller of BBC1 from 1984 to 1986.
Chief executive of Channel 4 from 1988 to 1997.
Chairman of the board of governors of the BBC from 2004 to 2006.
Executive chairman of ITV plc from 2007 to 2009.
Began his career as a sports columnist for the Daily Mirror from 1964 to 1966.

Biography

Michael Ian Grade, Baron Grade of Yarmouth, is an English television executive and businessman born into a prominent show business family. He began his career in journalism, joining the Daily Mirror in 1960 and serving as a sports columnist from 1964 to 1966. Following his father's stroke in 1966, Grade transitioned into the theatrical business, representing notable artists such as Morecambe and Wise, and successfully negotiated their move from ATV to BBC2 in 1968.