Clive Myrie
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Clive Myrie hit back at critics of the BBC in a media speech last night. Myrie defended impartiality and said the Beeb “doesn’t belong to the Government or a board of managers” in a RTS/Media Society talk at the University of Westminster.
In her MacTaggart lecture, ex-BBC star Emily Maitlis said “both sides-ism” meant bad reporting, and called BBC board member Robbie Gibb a Government “agent”. Speaking to us after, Myrie said he wasn’t attacking Maitlis directly and hopes the BBC will be properly funded by the new PM. He also praised Channel 4, which was threatened with privatisation by ex-Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries.
We asked if Myrie might replace main BBC newsreader Huw Edwards, who was spotted going into the Global Radio offices last week. He demured: “He’s still there, isn’t he?”
Boris ‘the rocket’ bonds with Ukraine
BORIS JOHNSON called himself a “booster rocket that has fulfilled its function” which will now be “splashing down invisibly” in the Pacific in his No 10 farewell speech this morning. But is this the end? President Zelensky wrote online that the pair last night discussed how Boris could now work with Ukraine in a “new status”. It’s rumoured Liz Truss could make the outgoing PM Ukraine envoy.
Water not fizz for man tipped to be Environment Secretary
LIZ TRUSS had a bash with allies in the Square Mile last night but it was a rather more sober evening for Ranil Jayawardena, tipped to be environment secretary. We met him in a Westminster branch of Tesco, buying a large bottle of mineral water. When we asked if he’d got the job, Jayawardena said: “She’s not called me yet! I’ll find out tomorrow.” Perhaps he didn’t get the party invite.
Fiennes says rebels are inevitable
RALPH Fiennes loves Russian culture but not its current politics. The actor made a veiled attack on Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine at a tribute to ballet star Rudolf Nureyev at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, last night. Fiennes, who has made a film about Nureyev, said it is a “principle of physics” that a repressive regime will “create its own rebels”, and condemned “blatant humanitarian transgression.”
Spirit of Ziggy lives on at BFI
WOULD-BE MP Eddie Izzard, who last week announced she was running for Parliament, wore a jazzy dress for the premiere of new David Bowie doc Moonage Daydream at the BFI last night. The film drew daringly dressed celebs including Courtney Love, designer Daphne Guinness and drag race stars Bimini Bon Boulash and A’Whora. Primal Scream singer Bobby Gillespie, who performed with Bowie, paid a less dressy homage. In Soho, actor Keeley Hawes attended the launch of her new drama Crossfire.
