The government has today confirmed that Channel 4 is to avoid privatisation and remain under public ownership.
After what has been years of talks to sell the broadcaster for a reported possible £1.5 billion, which had faced strong opposition from executives at Channel 4 itself and throughout much of the TV industry, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has today confirmed a U-turn on such privatisation plans and announced that the channel will stay under public ownership, The Manc reports.
The government says Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan has "decided not to privatise Channel 4 after reviewing the business case for its sale".
This means that the broadcaster will remain in public ownership, but now with what the government is calling "greater commercial flexibility", an "increased investment in skills and jobs", as well as new production arrangements to "support" the channel's "long-term sustainability and growth".
Ms Donelan has called Channel 4 "a British success story" and "a linchpin of our booming creative industries", but says she has decided that pursuing a sale is not the best option to "ease the challenges" the broadcaster is facing, nor to support growth in the UK’s creative economy - especially the independent production sector.
The government says that doing nothing, however, also "carries risks".
This is why it says it believes change is necessary to ensure the broadcaster can thrive, both "now and long into the future" in what is a rapidly-changing media landscape.
Following discussions with Channel 4 and the independent production sector, the government has also confirmed an "ambitious package of measures" as an alternative to a sale.
"The package will ensure the broadcaster remains focused on sustainability and has new opportunities to grow while serving audiences in the decades to come with high-quality, innovative and distinctive content," the government explains.
In addition to the package of measures, the government says Channel 4 has also committed to increasing the number of roles outside London - which is set to provide more opportunities for people from across the UK to gain experience in the broadcast media sector.
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan "decided not to privatise Channel 4 after reviewing the business case for its sale" / Credit: Flickr
Channel 4 - which was created in 1982, and has been funded entirely by advertising out of public ownership for the last 40 years, with everything it airs is commissioned from external production companies - has welcomed the decision to ditch privatisation plans for it to remain "safely in the hands of the British people".
The broadcaster said in a statement: "For over 40 years, Channel 4 has been a keystone of Britain's universal, free, public service broadcasting architecture.
"We have spoken up for diverse and young audiences across the UK, nurtured new talent and held power to account, but standing still has never been an option for Channel 4 throughout our history.
"Indeed, our next stage of evolution is already well under way."
Featured Image - Flickr
News
Channel 4 needs people from Yorkshire who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series
Have you always wondered how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now's your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: "Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?"
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city - used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare - with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden - which is part of ITV Studios - for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on people from Yorkshire with the 'courage and ingenuity' to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let's prove what we're made of.
Applications close on Sunday 4 October 2026 at midnight, and you must be 18 or above, with a valid UK or ROI passport, to enter.
Leeds has been crowned the UK’s spiciest city, according to new research
Clementine Hall
With National Curry Week just around the corner, new research has revealed which UK cities like their food with a kick.
The outcome? Leeds has come out firmly on top.
The research, carried has been out by Britsuperstore, analysed TripAdvisor data to find the UK cities with the highest concentration of restaurants serving some of the world’s most flavour-packed cuisines, including Indian, Thai, Caribbean, Mexican, Korean and Ethiopian food.
And it seems us Leeds lot aren't afraid of a little bit of spice, with the city boasting 51.33 spicy-cuisine restaurants per 100,000 people. Now that's a lot of spice.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
That puts Leeds ahead of Bath and Oxford, which take second and third place respectively, as the cities with the highest concentration of restaurants serving cuisines known for their fiery flavours.
At the other end of the scale, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne has been named the UK’s mildest city, with just 7.14 spicy-cuisine restaurants per 100,000 people.
The top 10 spiciest cities in the UK are:
Leeds
Bath
Oxford
Edinburgh
Bristol
York
Cardiff
London
Swansea
Sheffield
And we can't say we're particularly surprised, as here in Leeds our diverse food scene is very impressive indeed. From iconic Indian street food at Bundobust to Kerala-inspired small plates at Kerala Canteen, there's a spicy dish for everyone to enjoy in and around the city.
So, whether you're someone who orders Extra Hot at Nandos or prefers to keep things firmly on the milder side, Leeds looks like the place to be when it comes to getting your spice fix.
Emily Sergeant -
5th January 2023 
