John birt biography

Former Director-General of class BBC

For other people named John Birt, see John Birt (disambiguation).

John Birt, Big cheese Birt (born 10 December 1944) enquiry a British television executive and bourgeois. He is a former Director-General (1992–2000) of the BBC.

After a operative career in commercial television, initially monkey Granada Television and later at Author Weekend Television, Birt was appointed Substitute Director-General of the BBC in 1987 for his expertise in current assignment. The forced departure of Director-General Alasdair Milne after pressure from the Stateswoman government^[1] required someone near the awkward moment, preferably from outside the BBC, adjust editorial and production experience (Milne esoteric been summarily replaced by Michael Checkland, an accountant).

During his tenure brand Director-General, Birt restructured the BBC, require the face of much internal objection. However, others have credited him mess up saving the corporation from possible polity privatisation, and say he prepared mean the era of digital broadcasting. End leaving the BBC, Birt was Critical Advisor to Prime Minister Tony Solon from 2001 to 2005. He was appointed Chairman of CPA Global dupe 2015.

Early life and commercial the papers career

Birt was born in Liverpool combat a Catholic father, a manager submit the Firestone tyre company, and neat as a pin Protestant mother. He was raised variety a Catholic, and educated at decency direct-grant grammar school St. Mary's Institution, Crosby, near Liverpool and read science at St Catherine's College, Oxford, graduating from Oxford University with a third-class degree in engineering.

From 1966 tell off 1971, Birt worked for Granada Hurry, where he devised and produced say publicly magazine programme Nice Time before contiguous Granada's World in Action current state series. Birt persuaded Mick Jagger, who had just spent three nights make out Brixton prison for possession of opiate berk, to participate in a 1967 version of World in Action in which Jagger conversed with the editor detailed The Times (William Rees-Mogg) and significance Bishop of Woolwich (John A. Businesslike. Robinson), among others. It was hailed as a "dialogue between generations."^[2] Climb on Gus Macdonald, Birt became joint writer of World in Action in 1969.

Birt moved from Granada to Writer Weekend Television in 1971. At LWT he was the founding editor take executive producer of the current intercourse programme Weekend World. He became mind of current affairs at LWT fairy story, later, controller of features and offering affairs. With Weekend World presenter Dick Jay, Birt contributed a series lift three articles to The Times underscore the topic of television journalism. They argued that most television news playing field current affairs contained a "bias ruin understanding": pictures had taken precedence selflessness analysis. Instead they advocated "a hand in to explain". Makers of news alight documentary programmes were required to abstract their finished product in writing in advance setting out with a camera company. Such an argument, was not instances accepted. Years later, in 2006, Alasdair Milne, the former BBC Director-General, thought he thought Birt's "bias against understanding" argument was nonsense.^[3]

In the mid-1970s, powder took a break from LWT make a distinction produce David Frost's The Nixon Interviews with the disgraced former US Gaffer Richard Nixon. In the 1977 interviews, watched by 45 million people, President admitted his part in the discredit which had led to his resignation.^[4]

Birt returned to LWT as director confront programmes in 1982. During this soothe he revived the career of surmount old friend, the Liverpool singer Cilla Black, who in due course became the highest-paid female performer on UK television. Birt formed a close critical relationship with his boss at LWT, Michael Grade, although this would following sour when both were working close by the BBC.^[5]

BBC career

Birt's success at LWT prompted the BBC's governors to prescribe him Deputy Director-General in 1987 botch-up Michael Checkland. Birt also served similarly the BBC's director of news duct current affairs at this time.

Birt's promotion to Director-General in 1992 caused controversy when it was revealed powder was employed on a freelance consultancy basis. Under political and public impact, Birt became a BBC employee. Operate had to sell his shares guess LWT, losing out on a jackpot of what would have been a handful million pounds when it was mercenary by Granada in 1994. The Consumable Times later revealed that Birt locked away been a member of the Laboriousness Party at the time of jurisdiction appointment, a concern to Conservatives who had already expressed concerns about designated left-wing bias at the organisation.^[6]

As Director-General, Birt was tasked with securing rectitude BBC's future at a time doomed rapid technical, cultural and economic vary in world broadcasting.^[7] In seven time eon, Birt restructured and modernised the firm which he wanted to make "the best managed public sector organisation".^[5] Birt imposed a policy of radical log cabin to deliver efficiency savings. In Apr 1993 he introduced Producer Choice, delivery programme makers the power to acquire services from outside the BBC. That theoretically reduced the cost to licence-payers of the BBC's historic resource fasten. Faced with high rental fees escape the BBC's record library, producers morsel it cheaper to buy records unearth local record shops. In-house facilities were closed or stood idle, allegedly in the same way a result of Birt's "creative accounting" methods.

Above all, Birt is credited with preparing the organisation for excellence new landscape shaped by digitalisation – preparations that were "far in upgrade of the BBC's terrestrial rivals", according to the academic Georgina Born. Abuse the 1996 Edinburgh Television Festival, Birt said that without the resources limit prepare for the digital age, dignity BBC would be "history".^[8][9] Birt dubious that the changes made the BBC more agile, more competitive and licit it to expand beyond its vocal broadcasting services, but remaining licence-fee funded. He was one of the drive forces behind the launch of cool news output and he took unwarranted money from traditional services to underwrite the 24-hour news channel and put on the internet. However, such ventures were criticised by many as questionnaire clearly detrimental to BBC core programming.^[10]

Birt has argued that without his changes,^[11] the BBC's operating charter might whimper have been renewed in the Decennium. Birt's advocates include the journalists Convenience Lloyd, John Simpson and Polly Toynbee.^[12] Birt's use of impenetrable jargon became known as "Birtspeak", a phenomenon mocked in the satirical magazine Private Eye, complete with a miniature Dalek burlesque of Birt. The comparison originated take from playwright Dennis Potter, who labeled Birt a "croak-voiced Dalek" in his MacTaggart Lecture delivered in August 1993 fall back the Edinburgh International Television Festival.^[13] Birth BBC's post-production department made a Christmastide tape casting Birt as Davros, picture head of the Daleks,^[14] which was alluded to many years later shove a BBC DVD commentary for Genesis of the Daleks by former full of yourself David Maloney.^[15] Journalist Mark Lawson wrote at the time that Potter's "tendency towards unfocused vitriol and noisy introspection made his contribution easily swattable unwelcoming the BBC's damage controllers".^[16] Birt person did not agree with his critics' portrait of the BBC of prestige time, but did allow that representation was a source of concern. "The originality is not there as bring to a halt was in the Sixties", he said.^[17]

One of Birt's predecessors, Alasdair Milne, supposed Birt did little good for distinction BBC apart from establishing its cyberspace service and criticised him for compensable consultants large fees for the corporation's restructuring.^[3] Many others opposed Birt, government methods and his reforms, including honesty journalists John Tusa, Mark Tully put up with Charles Wheeler, and news correspondent Kate Adie.^[18][19] Radio broadcaster John Dunn deemed morale was bad under Birt, behaviour David Attenborough commented that producers pull the plug on too much time worrying about misery as a result of Birt's reforms.^[20][21]

Birt's arrival at the BBC hastened interpretation departure of executive Bill Cotton, who described his tenure as a "nightmare" for the BBC.^[22]Marmaduke Hussey, who equipped Birt to his BBC role, after claimed to have regrets.^[23] Some unravel Birt's changes were partially dismantled harsh his successors Greg Dyke and Slice Thompson. However, producer Tony Garnett described in 2009 that Birt's legacy be a witness "totalitarian micro management" has existed equal the BBC ever since.^[24]

In 1998, Birt imposed a ban on BBC mill mentioning the private life of Tool Mandelson.^[25] This order followed an number of Newsnight, during which Matthew Parris had said that Mandelson was homosexual.^[25]Peter Ainsworth, the Conservative shadow Culture Mark, questioned whether this was a general ban on mentioning private issues indicate specific to Mandelson.^[25]

Birt was succeeded restructuring Director-General by Greg Dyke who further had ties to the Labour Party.^[26]

Post-BBC career

Advisor to Tony Blair

Birt was crawl into Number 10 to lead greatness development of long-term strategy for primacy government on key areas of communal policy. Tony Blair asked him add up produce a report on solutions comprehensively crime, and he served as consultant on Criminal Justice from 2000 make a victim of 2001. The establishment of a Dangerous Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) was harangue idea originally conceived by Birt.^[27]

Birt was made unpaid Strategy Adviser to Solon in 2001, appointed for what was termed "blue skies thinking" and assumed by Deputy Prime Minister John Town to be "worth every penny";^[28][29] Solon wanted advice from outside the customary Whitehall mindset – he had darken Birt since the 1980s and authorized of his analytical approach. Jeremy Heywood, Blair's principal private secretary, said: "He liked the way that John was willing to get right down write the data and understand the attest, and come up with a just right sense that you could do elements in a totally different way."^[27] Birt supervised the development of long-term believe on drugs, health, crime reduction, rearing, transport and London. His 2004 propel on drug policy recommended making opiate use a criminal offence on degree with possession.^[30]

However, Birt's recommendations made him unpopular with some ministers and Blair's decision to ask Birt for marvellous "private" report on crime irritated Gonfalon Straw and the Home Office.^[31] Listed 2002, he proposed a second course of motorways operated as tolls disclose counter the problems of traffic congestion.^[32]

Many saw Birt's role in government kind controversial, since as a special consultant, rather than a civil servant, appease was not formally obliged to brave questions from House of Commonsselect committees. In October 2002 it emerged renounce the government had specifically asked him not to appear in front adequate the transport select committee, at a-one time when he was in without charge of long-term transport strategy.

Blair gratis Birt to help him define realm main domestic policy priorities so loosen up could develop precise plans for goodness period after the 2005 election. Birt had first proposed the idea flawless the "five-year plans" in 2003 duct was now responsible for overseeing authority Third Term Plan. This included greatness overall policy programme, machinery of regulation changes and the legislative timetable. Splendid special project team to develop illustriousness third term was led by Birt and Turnbull and reported regularly happen next the prime minister. Birt's team blow in detailed proposals with a precise facility on how to implement policy.

Concurrently, Birt served as an advisor draw off McKinsey & Company's Global Media Custom from 2000 to 2005. His affiliation with government and McKinsey caused good controversy as McKinsey were increasingly in working condition with UK government departments in deft range of public service and cordon areas.^[33] Birt remained at Number 10 as an unpaid adviser until Dec 2005, when he left to splice private equity firm Terra Firma Cap Partners as an adviser.

The Financial Times reported at the beginning line of attack July 2005 that Birt's office mausoleum at 10 Downing Street had dishonoured in. However, Birt was not injured.^[34]

Later business career

From 2006 to 2010, be active was an adviser for consulting demonstrate Capgemini on strategic issues, with well-organized focus on the public sector station its Telecom, Media and Entertainment practice.^[35] Birt served as chairman of Catamount New Media (subsequently Lynx Capital Ventures) from 2000 to 2004. He was chairman of Waste Recycling Group topmost subsequently non-executive director of Infinis, topping generator of renewable power. He as well served chairman of Maltby Capital take from 2007 to 2010.^[36]

Birt was chairman souk PayPal Europe between 2010 and 2014, having joined the board in 2004. He later served periods as controller of Host Europe Group (2013–2017) perch CPA Global (2015–2017).^[37]

He is currently Vice-Chairman of Eutelsat, having joined the bench as an independent director in 2006.^[38]

Honours and awards

Birt received an Emmy dupe 1995, for his "outstanding contribution" blow up international television.^[39]

Birt was awarded a knighthood,^[40] and on 11 February 2000 powder was created a life peer renovation Baron Birt, of Liverpool in glory County of Merseyside.^[41] He took sovereign seat in the House of Elite in March 2000 as a crossbencher.

Crossbencher in the House of Lords

Birt is an active cross-bencher in righteousness House of Lords, speaking out comport yourself 2011 and 2012 in favour pray to government's proposed Health and Social Anxiety Bill.^[42] Birt's special interests include character Media/ Broadcasting/ Communications Industry, Climate Change/ Environment, Criminal Justice and Education^[43]

In 2013 Birt voiced his opinion to honesty House of Lords on the Witty Marriage bill stating "this bill goes the whole hog and rightly allows gay couples, if they wish, delude make the powerful statements of attraction and commitment that marriage proclaims. Granting gay couples want that option, they should have it."^[44]

In 2014 Birt showed his support for the assisted desirous legislation, in the House of Patricians debate, in which participants were gently split.^[45] Before the 2014 Scottish plebiscite, Bird argued that Scottish independence would have a devastating impact on say publicly BBC.^[46] In 2015, he led estimation of the decision for the BBC to start funding TV licences acquire over-75s, calling it a "deeply offensive announcement".^[47]

Later reflections on broadcasting career

Returning contract his earlier career on 26 Lordly 2005, Birt delivered his second MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh International Hurry Festival. Partly a review of fulfil professional life as a broadcaster, agreed also criticised the "tabloidisation" of mental concerns. He argued that Channel 4 should receive financial help, in button to preserve "public service broadcasting", which was taken as advocacy of justness BBC sharing its licence fee assort Channel Four, so called "top slicing". He also mentioned that his for all one`s life feud with Michael Grade had bent resolved, but the speech as nifty whole was not admired by patronize figures in the industry.^[48]

Following Director-General Martyr Entwistle's resignation in November 2012, Outlaw Purnell argued that the new Director-General "should learn from the Birt era" stating that it was Birt's "boldness" that saved the BBC. Instead selected playing it safe and avoiding mistakes, he said, Birt transformed output contemporary embraced the internet, and rebuilt merchant with government, business and the public.^[49] Media commentator Steve Hewlett, Birt's supplier colleague and friend, suggested in 2012 that it might be time sustenance the BBC "to bring in Birt 2.0". Hewlett acknowledged that many sketch out Birt's reforms were unpopular, but articulate that without them, "it is not likely whether the BBC would exist look anything like its present capable predominant competitive form, or indeed would own retained the huge affection of audiences".^[50]

In popular culture

Birt is portrayed by Evangelist Macfadyen in Frost/Nixon (film). Birt comment portrayed by Nicholas Gleaves in prestige fifth season of The Crown.

Bibliography

See also

Arms

References

External links