Michael Grade Sues Greg Dyke, Times

LONDON: ITV plc’s executive chairman, Michael Grade, is suing Greg Dyke and The Times for libel over a piece the former BBC chief wrote in the British newspaper last month.

The libel suit centers on the portion of the article, about ITV’s financial woes, that focused on the circumstances around Grade leaving the BBC board to join ITV in 2006. According to published reports, Dyke made several allegations about Grade’s conduct while serving as the chairman of the BBC board of governors, and criticized the manner in which Grade handled ITV’s finances. Grade’s lawyers are said to have sent The Times a letter alleging "serious defamation" and demanding an apology after Dyke’s column was published. When one failed to appear, Grade proceeded with his legal action.