Proposed Ofcom chairman praises ‘wonderful woke debate’

The government’s preferred choice for chair of Ofcom has described the controversy around “woke” subjects as a “wonderful debate”.

Lord Grade of Yarmouth, who has held senior executive roles at the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, has previously spoken out about his anti-woke beliefs in the past.

Asked by Clive Efford for his opinion on the “woke agenda”, Lord Grade said his views “are not particularly relevant.”

Clarifying his stance, he said: “As always with Ofcom, we will deal with it on the basis of the evidence, checking what has been broadcast or said or portrayed, against our programme codes and so on, and you just, you will have to take each case on its merits.”

When asked by shadow SNP culture secretary John Nicolson if he could define the term woke, Lord Grade stated: “it’s a wonderful debate that’s going on in the country, a very lively debate.”

After Nicolson drew attention to Lord Grade’s support for outspoken political activist Lawrence Fox, he admitted: “I admire his courage in speaking out and contributing to the debate.”