Tory frontrunner has been effusive about broadcaster’s role covering disability
Penny Mordaunt, one of the favourites to become the next prime minister, has previously been a vocal supporter of Channel 4 over its Paralympics coverage – an area the broadcaster has warned would be at risk if it were privatised.
Broadcast understands the former minister for disabled people, work and health is passionate about the issue of disability, and in the aftermath of C4’s coverage of the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, she tweeted: “Chance to say thank you to @Channel4 for all they are doing to make our TV screens and our nation inclusive”.
She also singled out the support of Open Mike’s The Last Leg format and a few weeks later praised the broadcaster for CPL’s “brilliant and inspiring concept” Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds.
Those comment were made in the same year that she launched the Bespoke Access awards from C4’s Horseferry Rd headquarters, when she singled out the broadcaster for its “great leadership” in the space.
One former C4 exec said that Mordaunt had proved eager to engage and build relationships.
“She took an active interest in employment opportunities for disabled talent and cared about their portrayal beyond the Paralympics themselves. It wasn’t just lip service. And she certainly wasn’t a fish out of water as she walked around the office. There was none of the robotic polish common to so many politicians.”
The individual believes that Mordaunt would be broadly appreciative and understanding of the role played by the PSBs, were she to be elected leader. “She is genuinely passionate about disability and will value what C4 has done in the space.”
In December 2021, Mordaunt responded to fears from Labour MP Barry Sheerman about the prospect of a privatised C4 walking away from Leeds.
“We often talk about the BBC and soft power, influence and all it brings but Channel 4 has also done some incredible things, particularly in the disability space, during the Paralympic games in 2012 and since,” she said. “[Sheerman’s] points have been well made. This is a matter for the DCMS, but I am sure those in the department will have heard him.”
C4 chief executive Alex Mahon has repeatedly suggested that a profit-driven C4 would be unlikely to bid for Paralympics rights.
Appearing in front of the DCMS Committee earlier this week, the C4 chief exec told ministers: “Innovation and distinctiveness is hard to do while seeking to maximise for profit because it involves taking significant creative risks on new talent, on social diverse topics and things that might not work which we are very motivated to do.
“A simple example would be the Paralympics. We know that other commercial broadcasters did not bid for the Paralympics when Channel 4 did. It is expensive to do [but] we believe it to be very important work.”
Mordaunt’s other interactions with the TV industry include working under shadow culture secretary Peter Ainsworth as head of broadcasting from 1999-2001,
No comments yet