Grade leaves Howell in the soup

Rupert Howell, the managing director of brand and commercial at ITV, moved to defend the suspicious timing of boss Michael Grade's no-show through illness at today's Isba conference, which followed this morning's announcement to the City that Grade is bringing in Peter Fincham to replace Simon Shaps. Howell had been due to do an Eric and Ernie-style double act with Grade at the advertising event, and leapt to his boss's defence, insisting that he was not faking it with a bout of "man flu". He added that Grade did, in fact, have "real flu" and was self medicating with "Jewish penicillin" - more commonly known as "chicken soup".