How Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan must look forward to his chairman Luke Johnson's weekly column in the FT, what with all those handy hints he provides about business and dealing with managers. Of course, none of it is about Channel 4, but Monkey bets Duncan often cannot help wondering. Take today's column, for instance. "Some managers have to be fired because they simply cannot cope," Johnson states quite bluntly. "It is becoming apparent that many leaders were really just suited to the good times." Gulp – who on earth are you talking about, Luke? He goes on: "We can face down these difficulties if we reform and accept the seriousness of the threats. So rather than funding bail-outs, governments should be reducing the obstacles to work, saving, investment and production." Ah, a rallying cry against government bail-outs – excepting Channel 4 of course.
