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Pioneering TV Planner Joe Rigby Dies at 87, Inspiring a Generation
16 Nov
Summary
- Working-class Catholic boy rose to TV executive at Granada
- Hired and nurtured successful TV producers and directors
- Played key role in Granada's northern identity and programming
Joe Rigby, a television executive who played a pivotal role at Granada TV in Manchester, has passed away at the age of 87. Rigby, who hailed from a working-class Catholic family in Birmingham, left school at 15 but went on to have a remarkable career in the media industry.
For 20 years, from 1973 to 1993, Rigby served as Granada's head of programme planning, where he was responsible for hiring, inspiring, and nurturing a talented team of scriptwriters who crafted the on-air promotions for the company's programmes. Many of these writers, including Andy Harries, David Liddiment, and Dearbhla Walsh, went on to achieve great success as television producers and directors.
Rigby was known for his passion for Granada's northern identity and his efforts to secure prominent slots on the ITV schedule for the company's programming. He was also an ambassador for Granada, representing the company at television festivals in Cannes and Monte Carlo, where he rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous.
