Jeff Randall seems to have had the scoop on Michael Grade‘s move to ITV. Grade probably only had it in him to go on making worthy speeches for so long! ITV News at 10.30pm is left to go with “reports that…” in the headlines and poor old Harry Smith doing a studio spot. Sir Peter Burt could have given the story to ITN…

Anyway, Grade as exec Chairman is good news for ITV, a loss for the Beeb. Maybe he’ll bring with him a new found interest in the importance of public service television? After all ITV’s future needs protecting if it’s to stop losing 1.5% audience share a year.