The Stage

TV producer Redmond to lead Liverpool’s Cultural Group

Published Tuesday 18 September 2007 at 13:35 by Alistair Smith

Brookside and Grange Hill creator Phil Redmond has been charged with overseeing the creative element of Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture, as the programme received yet another shake up.

Redmond, also well known as the founder of Mersey Television, will serve as deputy chair of the Liverpool 08 board, with the body slimmed down from 14 to six members in a bid to allow it to “react more quickly and fast track decisions for the 08 schedule”. The remaining members will also include Culture Northwest director Bryan Gray as chair, responsible for the event’s finances, and Tom Bloxham, chairman of Arts Council England, North West.

The restructure marks the latest in a series of high profile overhauls to the organisation of the event, including the resignation of artistic director Robyn Archer in 2006.

The board has already agreed the programme for the year of culture, which is to be announced later this month, and the new body will now focus on how to deliver the event effectively.

Gray said: “We have moved quickly to complete the formation of the new board in order to focus our attention on delivery of the 2008 programme, which was agreed earlier this week. This is a very strong board which will work hard on behalf of the people of Liverpool, the wider region and the country to deliver European Capital of Culture 2008 on behalf of the UK.

“I wish to thank publicly everyone who has served on the Culture Company Board since Liverpool won the nomination. We are keen to continue benefiting from their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm through the Cultural Group, which Phil Redmond will lead. We will also work with all sectors of the community and all our sponsors and supporters to ensure that Liverpool delivers the best possible year.”