Michael Grade: public spirit only goes so far

Poor old Michael Grade was forced to defend his decision to move to ITV by a member of the Lords communications committee today. Investigating the governance and regulation of the BBC, the Earl of Onslow asked the former BBC chairman – who famously shocked the corporation in 2006 by leaving it amid complex licence fee negotiations to become ITV's executive chairman – if he thought being head of the board of BBC governors had been a public service job. "Certainly," replied Grade. Onslow then leapt in with: "Then why did you think public service was compatible with immediately jumping ship at such short notice and going to ITV? I wouldn't regard that as a public service ethos at all." Grade's smile tightened a little as he countered: "People switch in and out of the public sector. I think that's a good thing." Monkey ventures Grade's bank manager would agree.