Michael Peacock
Encyclopedia
Michael Peacock was a British television
executive, who from 1963 until the spring of 1965 was the first ever Controller of BBC Two
, the Corporation's second television channel.
After graduating with a degree in sociology from the prestigious London School of Economics
, Michael Peacock joined BBC Television in 1952 as a trainee producer, working in the Television Talks Department based at Alexandra Palace
which moved to the Lime Grove Studios
the following year. In 1955 he become the producer of the Corporation's first weekly current affairs programme Panorama
at the age of just twenty-five. Under his editorship the programme became hugely popular, and it was he who masterminded what is still its most remembered story, a world famous April Fool's Day 'Joke' which fooled many viewers into believing that spaghetti grew on trees
.
In 1959 he was promoted to Editor of Television News, and continued to produce coverage of special events such as the General Election
of 1959. He remained into this post until 1963, when he was appointed to be the first Controller of BBC Two
, which he launched in 1964.
During the first year of BBC-2 he oversaw the screening of some notable successes such as the highly esteemed documentary series The Great War, Match of the Day
and the sitcom series The Likely Lads
, but audiences for the new channel were very small. In 1965, he was moved across to be Controller of the more mainstream BBC One, to which it was felt his talents would be more suited. This makes Peacock one of only three people (the others being Alan Yentob
and Michael Jackson
) ever to have been Controller of both BBC One
and BBC Two
.
Under Peacock, BBC One became a channel at the peak of one of its most successful eras. However, his stay in control was only to be a little longer than his tenure at BBC Two
. This was because in 1967 he was head-hunted to be the first Managing Director of London Weekend Television
, which he launched in 1968. However, his time at LWT was frustrated by union problems and ratings which were below expectations. He was fired by the company in 1969 and ten senior programme staff resigned with him.
He has since been MD of Warner Bros TV Ltd in London, followed by 2 years (1974-76) in Burbank, California as Exec. VP Warner Bros TV Inc. He was a founding partner in Video Arts with John Cleese, Antony Jay and Peter Robinson. He was Chief Exec. of Video Arts TV, and later of Dumbarton Films until 1989.
He helped to found Manchester's Picadilly Radio
in 1974, and became Deputy Chairman in 1987. He was Chairman of Unique Broadcasting Co. from 1989, and of UBC Media Group plc from 2000- 2005.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
executive, who from 1963 until the spring of 1965 was the first ever Controller of BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, the Corporation's second television channel.
After graduating with a degree in sociology from the prestigious London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, Michael Peacock joined BBC Television in 1952 as a trainee producer, working in the Television Talks Department based at Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
which moved to the Lime Grove Studios
Lime Grove Studios
Lime Grove Studios was a film studio complex built by the Gaumont Film Company in 1915 situated in a street named Lime Grove, inShepherd's Bush, west London, north of Hammersmith and described by Gaumont as "the finest studio in Great Britain and the first building ever put up in this country...
the following year. In 1955 he become the producer of the Corporation's first weekly current affairs programme Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
at the age of just twenty-five. Under his editorship the programme became hugely popular, and it was he who masterminded what is still its most remembered story, a world famous April Fool's Day 'Joke' which fooled many viewers into believing that spaghetti grew on trees
Spaghetti tree
The spaghetti tree hoax is a famous 3-minute hoax report broadcast on April Fools' Day 1957 by the BBC current affairs programme Panorama. It told a tale of a family in southern Switzerland harvesting spaghetti from the fictitious spaghetti tree, broadcast at a time when this Italian dish was not...
.
In 1959 he was promoted to Editor of Television News, and continued to produce coverage of special events such as the General Election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
of 1959. He remained into this post until 1963, when he was appointed to be the first Controller of BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, which he launched in 1964.
During the first year of BBC-2 he oversaw the screening of some notable successes such as the highly esteemed documentary series The Great War, Match of the Day
Match of the Day
Match of the Day is the BBC's main football television programme. Typically, it is shown on BBC One on Saturday evenings during the English football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in English football's top division, the Premier League...
and the sitcom series The Likely Lads
The Likely Lads
The Likely Lads was a black-and-white British sitcom created and written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and produced by Dick Clement. Twenty episodes were broadcast by the BBC, in three series, between 16 December 1964 and 23 July 1966...
, but audiences for the new channel were very small. In 1965, he was moved across to be Controller of the more mainstream BBC One, to which it was felt his talents would be more suited. This makes Peacock one of only three people (the others being Alan Yentob
Alan Yentob
Alan Yentob is a British television executive and presenter who has worked throughout his career at the BBC.-Early life:...
and Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson (TV)
Michael Richard Jackson is a British television producer and executive. He is notable for being one of only three people to have been Controller of both BBC One and BBC Two, the main television channels of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and for being the first media studies graduate to...
) ever to have been Controller of both BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
and BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
.
Under Peacock, BBC One became a channel at the peak of one of its most successful eras. However, his stay in control was only to be a little longer than his tenure at BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
. This was because in 1967 he was head-hunted to be the first Managing Director of London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
, which he launched in 1968. However, his time at LWT was frustrated by union problems and ratings which were below expectations. He was fired by the company in 1969 and ten senior programme staff resigned with him.
He has since been MD of Warner Bros TV Ltd in London, followed by 2 years (1974-76) in Burbank, California as Exec. VP Warner Bros TV Inc. He was a founding partner in Video Arts with John Cleese, Antony Jay and Peter Robinson. He was Chief Exec. of Video Arts TV, and later of Dumbarton Films until 1989.
He helped to found Manchester's Picadilly Radio
Piccadilly Magic 1152
NB Piccadilly Radio re-directs here. See also Key 103Piccadilly Magic 1152 , began broadcasting as Piccadilly Radio, which was Manchester's first commercial radio station.-Early years:...
in 1974, and became Deputy Chairman in 1987. He was Chairman of Unique Broadcasting Co. from 1989, and of UBC Media Group plc from 2000- 2005.