LJMU Vice-Chancellor to Chair 'Channel 4 to Liverpool Partnership'

Partnership spearheaded by Phil Redmond CBE, TV Producer and Screenwriter and Chair of the Liverpool City Region Cultural Strategy Group and Joe Anderson, Mayor of the City of Liverpool.

Professor Nigel Weatherill, Vice Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), is to Chair a new partnership that will ‘bid’ for Channel 4 to relocate its London base to Liverpool.

The ‘Channel 4 to Liverpool Partnership’ of LJMU, Liverpool City Council, the Liverpool Film Office and Phil Redmond, has been announced as LJMU responded to the Government’s consultation on the future location of Channel 4.

Professor Weatherill commented:

“Channel 4’s global reputation reflects that which our city is renowned for: pushing the boundaries of creativity, developing the talent and skills for a thriving and capable workforce, and, embracing diversity and individuality that contributes to a vibrant and innovative community.

“We offer a thriving broadcast ecosystem, and are ideally placed to act as gateway for new markets and creativity. That is why as Chair of this partnership, I believe we can maximise Channel 4’s regional impact and drive long-term success for this world-renowned publisher-broadcaster.”

Phil Redmond commented:

“As one of the founding producers that helped Channel 4 develop its distinctive voice I long felt that there was a need to find some way to refresh its vision and reinvigorate its voice. Moving the Channel out of London seems the right solution. Moving it to Liverpool, the UK's second city of culture, seems the obvious solution."

Joe Anderson, Mayor of the City of Liverpool, added:

“Aside from world beating locations and world class creative talent, the character and the history of the city sits well with Channel 4’s brand.

“This bid follows the successful joint approach to the Royal College of Physicians, which will be the anchor for Paddington Village, and underlines my commitment as Mayor to growth, jobs and an ambitious future for Liverpool.” 

The consultation being run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) closes today can be found here.

The Channel 4 to Liverpool Partnership will soon formally publish its bid document making the case for Liverpool to be the location of choice in the event the broadcaster moves its base from Horseferry Road in London.

LJMU’s full response, setting out some of the key points for why Liverpool could be the new location for Channel 4, can be found here