Channel 4 chairman Luke Johnson is busy looking for a replacement for the station's Mark Thompson who, as reported yesterday, has been appointed to the post of Director General at the Beeb. Word is Johnson was pretty prepared for losing his chief executive to the Corporation, despite Thompson's previous reservations about taking to BBC top job. Although in his office at Channel 4's Horseferry Road HQ yesterday, Thompson is likely to be placed on 'gardening leave' while the commercial network discuss matters with the BBC - Channel 4 are likely to insist Thompson fulfils his six month notice period before starting at the Corporation.
As for Thompson's replacement, while Johnson has indicated he will be considering a wide range of applicants, most expect someone from within the broadcasting industry to be appointed, especially given Johnson's relative inexperience in the media - former Channel 5 and current Sky TV boss Dawn Airey is an early favourite. Headhunters Whitehead Mann GKR have been charged with the task of finding a new boss for the channel.
Whoever gets appointed, could they please put a stop to Channel 4's habit of dropping screenings of my favourite programmes to screen the cricket. Now I'm one episode behind on The OC, and where was Popworld on Sunday morning?