By Matthew Stokes
You might not realise it, but you most likely have a lot to thank Peter Fincham for. One of the most powerful people in the media sector – 15th in the country, according to Media Guardian’s 2011 list – he has been responsible for some of the greatest television successes of the past twenty years. Whatever your taste in television, Fincham has probably been involved in one of your favourites.
Fincham will speaking at a joing event by Oxford Media Society and Reuter's Institute for Journalism at Green Templeton College on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 12.30pm. There will be drinks and light lunch 30 minutes early.
You might not like to admit it, but what would we do without Downton Abbey? (Well, I suppose Sunday night JCR meetings might get a better turn out…). Or reality TV like The X Factor, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, Britain’s Got Talent, Lord Sugar or Kim and Aggie? Thank Mr. Fincham for all of them.
He’s also brought us The Jonathan Ross Show, Davina (unlikely to be anyone’s favourite, but you never know), Daybreak, The One Show, and tonnes of laughter in the form of Green Wing and The IT Crowd. And if you fancy showing your gratitude for these cultural bastions, come and see him talk this week in Oxford about his media career.
Fincham studied at the other place (Churchill College) before joining Talkback in 1985. After its move into the television sector in 1989, he oversaw productions such as Da Ali G Show, I’m Alan Partridge and The Bill, winning an Indie Award for his contribution to the independent sector in 2001. On Talkback’s merger with Thames Television in 2003, he became Chief Executive of newly-formed Talkback Thames.
In 2005 the BBC somewhat controversially – or at least surprisingly – appointed him Controller of BBC One. Over the following two years he increased the channel’s audience share and was in control of a £873m annual budget. He managed to survive criticisms for spending £1.2m on new ‘circle idents’ in between programmes, for Jonathan Ross’s £18m salary and for axing Neighbours. However, during promotion for the fly-on-the-wall documentary Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work, following criticisms for the publicity’s depiction of our beloved monarch walking out of a photoshoot with Annie Leibovitz, he resigned in October 2007.
Only a few months later ITV hired him as Director of Television, a post he holds till today. Although he attracted controversy for axing Heartbeat and The Bill (a choice which 97% of the population reportedly opposed), he has been praised for massive successes such as Downton Abbey, as well as for bringing Jonathan Ross and Adrian Chiles to the commercial producer.
As he readily admits, there have been occasional failings: most notoriously, Davina, which was slated by critics and the public alike, and more recently Red or Black. In October, he admitted that the show would only return if changes were made to its format.
Peter Fincham is without a doubt one of the most influential and successful media personalities today. He will be talking to the Oxford Media Society at an event in conjunction with the Reuters Institute for Journalism in the Barclay Room, Green Templeton College, Friday 11 November at 12.30pm.
Entrance is free, and sandwiches and drinks will be provided 30 minutes before the talk. There’s no reason not to come. Hope to see as many of you there as possible!
Confirm your place on Facebook by clicking here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188412141240286.
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