Licence to be Different

Maggie Brown is one of the UK's leading media journalists. She writes for the Guardian's media section and website, and also contributes to a range of other publications including the Evening Standard, The Stage and Radio Times. She was one of the founders of The Independent and, as its first media editor, started its media section. She is a trustee of the Sandford St Martin's Trust, which promotes excellence in religious broadcasting, and a regular jury member for the BAFTA and Royal Television Society awards.

• Foreword by Luke Johnson.- Acknowledgements.- 1 How Celebrity Big Brother changed Channel 4.- 2 The long and winding road.- 3 Isaacs: maverick founder.- 4 Godfather in the green Rolls Royce.- 5 Miss No One from Nowhere joins Channel 4.- 6 Launch: a white-knuckle ride.- 7 Disaster! Channel 4 News.- 8 Two tigers at the table.- 9 Calmer waters.- 10 Likely lads flourish as Isaacs leaves.- 11 Dark horse makes the Grade.- 12 Breakfast with handcuffs.- 13 The golden formula.- 14 Britain's Pornographer-in-Chief?.- 15 Drama! GBH, Potter, Film on Four.- 16 Whitehall warriors fight privatisation.- 17 Lexus man arrives.- 18 New things in the air.- 19 Spending spree.- 20 The wall of leisure.- 21 Caught out by 9/11.- 22 Thompson's vaulting ambition.- 23 Two men with L plates.- 24 Big Brother.- 25 Channel 4 at the crossroads.- Conclusion.- Notes.- Index.