Michael Grade has a long and distinguished career in broadcasting, encompassing London Weekend Television, the BBC (as Controller of BBC-1) and over nine years as Chief Executive of Channel Four Television.   

In May 2004, he was appointed Chairman of the BBC, succeeding Gavyn Davies, resigning in November 2006 when his appointment as Executive Chairman of ITV was announced.

He is non-executive Chairman of Pinewood and Shepperton Film Studios and also of Ocado, the on-line retail grocery arm of the supermarket, Waitrose.

He stepped down from ITV at the end of 2009.

In January 2011, he was made a life peer of the House of Lords as Baron Grade of Yarmouth. He was introduced on 27 January 2011, and sits as a Conservative.