Feverish response

Michael Grade was this morning still obviously struggling with the flu - "real flu", mind, not "man flu", as the ITV managing director of brand and commercial, Rupert Howell, put it last week - during his interview on Radio 4's Today programme about the broadcaster's results. It certainly didn't help his temper. The TV veteran interrupted business correspondent Greg Wood's questions several times and wasn't having any of it when it was suggested that ITV's broadcasting and production sides should be split. "We don't think that and our shareholders don't think that, a few journalists might think that," he spluttered. "There is no argument whatsoever that makes any economic sense for anyone who is half economically literate." Monkey feels more chicken soup may be in order before Grade has to face more pesky hacks at ITV's 11am press conference. Monkey's advice to attending journos - just don't sit in the front row. You don't want to catch anything from the ITV executive chairman.