David Ernest Plowright (11 December 1930 – 24 August 2006) was a British television executive and producer.

Life

Plowright was educated at Scunthorpe Grammar School. He began his career in journalism as a reporter on the ''Scunthorpe Star'', and was, briefly, the equestrian correspondent of the '' Yorkshire Post''. He joined

Granada Television ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV (TV network), ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire on weekdays only, as ABC Weekend TV, ...

as news editor in 1957. Plowright rose to become Controller of Programmes from 1969 to 1979, and he succeeded Denis Forman first as managing director, and then Chairman of Granada Television in 1987. The outlook of Granada TV, under the leadership of Foreman and Plowright was described as "non-conformist, alternative, non-London". He easily steered Granada through 1991 ITV franchise auctions by threatening to sell ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...

'', Granada's signature show and one of the channel's biggest assets, to satellite television if their bid was rejected. Plowright was forced out in 1992 by Gerry Robinson, the new chief executive, which led to

John Cleese John Marwood Cleese ( ; born 27 October 1939) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and Television presenter, presenter. Emerging from the Footlights, Cambridge Footlights in the 1960s, he first achieved success at the Edinbur ...

describing Robinson as an "upstart caterer". Plowright's exit was regarded as a turning point in the process whereby ITV gave profits a bigger priority than programme quality. At Granada, Plowright was a defender of the often controversial current affairs programme, '' World in Action''. Under his leadership, dramas such as '' Brideshead Revisited'' and '' The Jewel In The Crown'' became successes for the company. In 1993, Plowright, with the support and backing of the University of Salford established the Nations and Regions Media Conference (now Salford International Media Festival) to champion the cause of regional broadcasters and producers. He believed the nations and regions of the United Kingdom should have a bigger share in the production and decision-making processes of the major broadcasters.

Family

Plowright was the younger brother of actress Joan Plowright, who was married to

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...

. The connection led to Olivier appearing in several Granada drama productions, including '' Brideshead Revisited''. Plowright married Brenda Key in 1953; they had a son and two daughters.

References

External links

*
David Plowright obituary
from ''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...

'' 1930 births 2006 deaths 20th-century English businesspeople BAFTA fellows Commanders of the Order of the British Empire English television executives ITV people People from Scunthorpe {{UK-tv-bio-stub