So does anybody out there want to be ITV chief executive? Today Channel 4's chief executive Andy Duncan and one of his predecessors, Michael Jackson, both ruled themselves out of the running. Former BSkyB boss Tony Ball has also said he's not interested.
Greg Dyke is probably up for it but it would be an extremely unlikely appointment after his failed bid earlier this year. The big hitters left are Ofcom's former chief Stephen Carter, whose position is highly problematic, and Dawn Airey, the managing director of Sky Networks. An internal appointment - Simon Shaps, Ian McCulloch or Jeff Henry - is possible but hardly represents a break with the past. Shareholders, who provided the impetus for Allen's exit, want new ideas.
Other than that you are left with City figures with little broadcasting knowledge, such as ITV board members Mike Clasper and James Crosby, or broadcasting executives who are light on City clout. As I've argued before, that is the central problem for ITV: what sort of chief executive do they want - a creative or a suit? Only Dyke really fits both bills, but as stated above his appointment is almost inconceivable. Perhaps Roger Parry, who is arguably making himself look too available, has what it takes after all.
It all adds up to a troubling picture for the ITV board and must be leaving the headhunters at Zygos scratching their heads. The growing suspicion is that the post vacated by Charles Allen is regarded by many potential candidates as a poisoned chalice.
ITV's board may even start to regret Allen's departure. He was after all someone who had built up formidable business and political skills who, for all his "caterer" origins, ended up knowing a lot about broadcasting.
