Lesley Douglas
Encyclopedia
Lesley Douglas is a former British radio executive. She was the Controller of BBC Radio 2
and 6 Music
from early 2004 until her resignation in October 2008 over the Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row
.
, North Tyneside
in 1963, where she grew up. As a child she went to see Sunderland A.F.C.
, her father's team, play at Roker Park
and became hooked. A Bruce Springsteen
fan with ambitions to be a journalist
, she decided to study English at the University of Manchester
to be closer to the vibrant 1980s Manchester scene
.
Show, later joining the promotions department. In 1988, she worked as a producer on programmes such as the Gloria Hunniford
Show and Brian Matthew
's Round Midnight. In 1990, she returned to the Promotions department, then in 1993, she was promoted to be Editor of Radio 2 Presentation and Planning. She became Managing Editor of Radio 2, then became Head of Programmes in 2000.
Douglas was appointed Controller of both stations on 10 October 2003 and began on 5 January 2004, succeeding James Moir
. She oversaw Mark Radcliffe
and Marc Riley
leaving Radio 1
in April 2004 and joining her two networks later that year; the controversial appointment of Chris Evans as Drivetime presenter on 18 April 2006; and appointing equally controversial Russell Brand
to 6 Music in April 2006 and overseeing his move to Radio 2 in November 2006.
She was a trustee of BBC Children in Need and sat on the Radio Times
Advisory Panel.
were suspended by the BBC, after they made a series of obscene phone calls
to the actor Andrew Sachs
in a pre-recorded edition of The Russell Brand Show
. Brand later resigned from the BBC. On 30 October 2008, Director General Mark Thompson
met with the BBC Trust
to discuss reaction to the incident, and Douglas's resignation was announced. On the same day, Jonathan Ross was suspended by the BBC without pay for 12 weeks.
It subsequently emerged that Douglas had allowed the offending segment to be broadcast without having listened to it.
Douglas had caused controversy earlier in 2008 with remarks, made in defence of the appointment of George Lamb
to the 10:00-13:00 slot on 6Music, which were seen as pandering to outdated stereotypes. An article in The Guardian
quoted her as saying:
There were existing problems with her siding with another of her signings Russell Brand against a series of producers as revealed in an interview with Paul Gambaccini
by Nicky Campbell
on The Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 5Live.
In December, Douglas began a new job as the Director of Programming and Business Development at the British subsidiary of Universal Music Group
.
, Douglas was awarded the top prize at the Music Industry Woman Of The Year Awards in 2004, and a BASCA (British Association of Composers and Songwriters) Gold Badge in October 2006. Douglas has chaired the Radio Festival Steering Committee on two occasions, and is currently Vice Chair of the Radio Academy. Douglas was awarded an honorary fellowship from the University of Sunderland
in 2007.
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
and 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
from early 2004 until her resignation in October 2008 over the Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row
Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row
The Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row concerned a series of voice messages that English entertainers Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross left on the answering machine of actor Andrew Sachs, which were labelled obscene by many media commentators and politicians...
.
Early life
Lesley Douglas was born in LongbentonLongbenton
Longbenton is a district of North Tyneside, England. It is largely occupied by an extensive estate originally built as municipal housing by Newcastle City Council in the 1950s and 1960s. It is served by the Tyne and Wear Metro stations Longbenton Metro station and Four Lane Ends Metro Station...
, North Tyneside
North Tyneside
The Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England and is part of the Tyneside conurbation. Its seat is Wallsend Town Hall....
in 1963, where she grew up. As a child she went to see Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, her father's team, play at Roker Park
Roker Park
Roker Park was an English football stadium situated in Roker, Sunderland. The stadium was the home of the English football club Sunderland A.F.C. from 1897 to 1997 before the club moved to the Stadium of Light. Near the end of the stadium's history, its capacity was around 22,500 with only a small...
and became hooked. A Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
fan with ambitions to be a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, she decided to study English at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
to be closer to the vibrant 1980s Manchester scene
Music of Manchester
-The pop groups of the 1960s and early 1970s:Manchester had an impressive music scene before 1976, with groups like The Hollies, The Bee Gees, Herman's Hermits, Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders, Freddie and the Dreamers in the 1960s and Barclay James Harvest and 10cc in the early 1970s. Top of the...
.
BBC career
On graduation, Douglas joined the BBC as a production assistant in 1986, and began at the David JacobsDavid Jacobs (disc jockey)
David Lewis Jacobs CBE is a British actor and broadcaster who gained prominence as presenter of the peak-time BBC Television show Juke Box Jury and the BBC Radio 4 political forum, Any Questions?-Early career:...
Show, later joining the promotions department. In 1988, she worked as a producer on programmes such as the Gloria Hunniford
Gloria Hunniford
Gloria Hunniford is a Northern Irish TV and radio presenter, and formerly a singer.-Biography:...
Show and Brian Matthew
Brian Matthew
Brian Matthew is a veteran English broadcaster, who became well known in the 1960s. He is still broadcasting on radio for the BBC, having presented Sounds of the 60s since 1990, often employing the same vocabulary and the same measured delivery he used in previous decades.-Early life and...
's Round Midnight. In 1990, she returned to the Promotions department, then in 1993, she was promoted to be Editor of Radio 2 Presentation and Planning. She became Managing Editor of Radio 2, then became Head of Programmes in 2000.
Douglas was appointed Controller of both stations on 10 October 2003 and began on 5 January 2004, succeeding James Moir
James Moir
James Moir was a senior BBC executive for many years until his retirement in 2003. Among the programmes he produced were Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game from 1971-75....
. She oversaw Mark Radcliffe
Mark Radcliffe
Mark Radcliffe is an English broadcaster who has worked in various roles for the BBC since the 1980s and remains one of Britain's most recognised DJs. He is currently a presenter on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music, where he hosts an afternoon show five times a week alongside Stuart Maconie, called...
and Marc Riley
Marc Riley
Marc Riley is a British musician, alternative rock critic and radio DJ on BBC 6 Music. Formerly a member of The Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger...
leaving Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
in April 2004 and joining her two networks later that year; the controversial appointment of Chris Evans as Drivetime presenter on 18 April 2006; and appointing equally controversial Russell Brand
Russell Brand
Russell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, columnist, singer, author and radio/television presenter.Brand achieved mainstream fame in the UK in 2004 for his role as host of Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother's Big Mouth. His first major film role was in the 2007 film St Trinians...
to 6 Music in April 2006 and overseeing his move to Radio 2 in November 2006.
She was a trustee of BBC Children in Need and sat on the Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
Advisory Panel.
Controversy
On 28 October 2008, Russell Brand and Jonathan RossJonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...
were suspended by the BBC, after they made a series of obscene phone calls
Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row
The Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row concerned a series of voice messages that English entertainers Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross left on the answering machine of actor Andrew Sachs, which were labelled obscene by many media commentators and politicians...
to the actor Andrew Sachs
Andrew Sachs
Andrew Sachs is a German-born British actor. He made his name on British television and is best known for his portrayals of Manuel in Fawlty Towers, a role for which he was BAFTA-nominated, and Ramsay Clegg in Coronation Street.-Early life:Sachs was born in Berlin, Germany, the son of Katharina , a...
in a pre-recorded edition of The Russell Brand Show
The Russell Brand Show (radio show)
The Russell Brand Show is a radio show first broadcast in 2006 on BBC 6 Music. The show's host is English comedian Russell Brand, who is usually joined his by co-host and long-term friend, Matt Morgan, as well as the show's poet laureate, Greg "Mr Gee" Sekweyama...
. Brand later resigned from the BBC. On 30 October 2008, Director General Mark Thompson
Mark Thompson
Mark John Thompson is Director-General of the BBC, a post he has held since 2004, and a former chief executive of Channel 4...
met with the BBC Trust
BBC Trust
The BBC Trust is the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is operationally independent of BBC management and external bodies, and aims to act in the best interests of licence fee payers....
to discuss reaction to the incident, and Douglas's resignation was announced. On the same day, Jonathan Ross was suspended by the BBC without pay for 12 weeks.
It subsequently emerged that Douglas had allowed the offending segment to be broadcast without having listened to it.
Douglas had caused controversy earlier in 2008 with remarks, made in defence of the appointment of George Lamb
George Lamb (presenter)
George Martin Lamb is a Scottish-born British radio and TV presenter. He is the son of actor Larry Lamb.-Career:Lamb's radio career peaked with presenting his own daytime show on BBC Radio 6 Music for two years from October 2007 to November 2009, before being moved the early weekend mornings for 6...
to the 10:00-13:00 slot on 6Music, which were seen as pandering to outdated stereotypes. An article in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
quoted her as saying:
"It’s partly how you talk about music. Men tend to be more interested in the intellectual side of the music, the tracks, where albums have been made, that sort of thing. For women, there tends to be more emotional reaction to music."
There were existing problems with her siding with another of her signings Russell Brand against a series of producers as revealed in an interview with Paul Gambaccini
Paul Gambaccini
Paul Matthew Gambaccini is a radio and television presenter in the United Kingdom...
by Nicky Campbell
Nicky Campbell
Nicholas Andrew Argyll "Nicky" Campbell is a Scottish radio and television presenter and journalist. He is known for his time presenting on programmes such as the consumer affairs programme Watchdog...
on The Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 5Live.
NC: "I hear he had five or six producers and whenever one said no to him, he went and got him or her sacked?"
PG: "You heard accurately. And I do believe that if anyone had investigated this matter properly and as now Ofcom and the BBC will, they will find about a dozen items that will make their hair curl on end. I'm not kidding you."
Post-BBC career
In November 2008, Douglas joined the board of trustees at The Sage Gateshead.In December, Douglas began a new job as the Director of Programming and Business Development at the British subsidiary of Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
.
Awards
A Fellow of The Radio AcademyRadio Academy
The Radio Academy is a registered charity that is dedicated to 'the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK broadcasting and audio production'....
, Douglas was awarded the top prize at the Music Industry Woman Of The Year Awards in 2004, and a BASCA (British Association of Composers and Songwriters) Gold Badge in October 2006. Douglas has chaired the Radio Festival Steering Committee on two occasions, and is currently Vice Chair of the Radio Academy. Douglas was awarded an honorary fellowship from the University of Sunderland
University of Sunderland
The University of Sunderland is located in Sunderland, north east England. The university has more than 17,500 students, including 7,000-plus international students from some 70 countries....
in 2007.
Personal life
She married Nick Scripps in September 1993 in Southwark. They have a son (born June 2002) and a daughter (born March 1999) named Sarah.External links
- Biography of Lesley Douglas, courtesy of BBC Press Office
- Becomes Controller of Radio 2
- November 2005 Independent article