Channel 4

Ian Katz discusses the future of Channel 4 with RTS audience

Katz, a former Newsnight editor and deputy editor of the Guardian, said that as a journalist he’d spent many years attempting to get climate change “into the heart of the political and the media agenda and mostly failing.”

But overnight Channel 4’s debate ensured that the subject came under the spotlight during the election. “I’m very proud of that,” he said. “It was an extraordinary achievement.”

Katz, speaking at an RTS Early Evening Event, described Channel 4 News as “probably the highest quality news programme in the world.”

Bake Off host steps down

After three years and 51 showstoppers, Toksvig has decide to step down from The Great British Bake Off to spend more time on different projects, such as her upcoming Channel 4 series The Write Offs.

Toksvig described working on the show with Noel Fielding, Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood as “one of the greatest pleasures of my life”, describing her friendship with them as one that will “continue beyond the confines of television.”

New comedy starring Steve Coogan and Sarah Solemani explores romance in a post #MeToo era

Sarah Solemani (Credit: Channel 4)

The series – written by Solemani – takes an uncompromising look at romance in a post #MeToo era and gives a comedic insight into the battleground of sexual politics.

Bobby (Sarah Solemani) and Cameron (Steve Coogan) are a completely mismatched pair, forced together by a cynical studio executive in order to save a failing movie.

Bobby is a woke writer and director who is currently an industry favourite, following her successful low-budget indie debut.

David Abraham: The mould breaker

David Abraham (Credit: Wonderhood Studios)

In one way, the career of David Abraham has come full circle. He began his working life in advertising – and, in his latest role, ­running his own company, Wonderhood Studios, he is once again involved in producing TV commercials, as well as making TV programmes. With his trademark heavy-rimmed glasses and carefully judged wardrobe, Abraham still looks like he might have stepped out of the pages of ad bible Campaign at its 1980s’ peak.

Broadcasting impartiality under siege in 2019 election campaign

Whatever your view of the result, it was a wretched and dispiriting election campaign. Politicians seldom broke away from churning out the same sound bites, and on social media there was a level of viciousness that was unbearable.

It’s therefore not exactly a surprise that the mainstream media, pressured by parties and harried by online trolls, had a rough ride in the 2019 general election, too. It is difficult, as the proverb goes, to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.