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![]() Wednesday, March 10, 1999 Published at 17:43 GMT ![]() ![]() Entertainment ![]() Geldof's lucrative Planet ![]() The Big Breakfast's hosts Johnny Vaughan and Kelly Brook ![]() Former rock idol Bob Geldof is set to earn millions of pounds from the sale of production company Planet 24 to TV giant Carlton Communications. Live Aid organiser Geldof set up the company, best known for Channel 4's morning programme The Big Breakfast, in 1992 along with Charlie Parsons and Waheed Alli. The deal will put Alli - made Lord Alli by Prime Minister Tony Blair last year - on the Carlton board managing director of the company's Carlton Productions arm. Geldof and Parsons will keep up their ties with Planet 24 and are understood to be working on new ideas. Geldof proud of company
Lord Alli said the tie-up with Carlton - which owns the ITV companies Carlton, Central and Westcountry - made for "boundless" opportunities. Bob Geldof said: "This is one company that has managed to shift the way television looks so that nowadays our screen is awash with Planet 24 wannabe programming." A company spokesman said it would retain its identity as part of the Carlton group, and would continue to work on a variety of projects for a number of different broadcasters. Current TV projects include a Channel 4 show for MTV UK presenter Richard Blackwood. "It'll be a great show. It'll be an old-fashioned variety show, but with lots of hip bands on and lots of energy," said the spokesman. A new film show for Johnny Vaughan is also in the pipeline for C4 to compete with the BBC's Film 99. Formed from Breakfast merger
The company was formed by Geldof's Planet Pictures and Alli and Parsons' 24 Hour Television to bid for the Channel 4 breakfast slot, beating 31 rivals to win the show. The Big Breakfast was a hit from its launch in September 1992, propelling Chris Evans from cult local radio DJ to his current status as TV star and owner of national pop station Virgin Radio. Its loud, brash style threatened to strange the new ITV breakfast outfit GMTV at birth, and over the years has grown to make stars out of many of its hosts. Geldof himself conducted a series of interviews with world leaders for the show, while his then-wife Paula Yates had cheeky chats with celebrities on the show's bed. Cutting-edge reputation
The company quickly developed a reputation for being on the cutting-edge, and gained new commissions, such as Gaytime TV for the BBC. In recent years the company has worked on more serious programming, including a documentary with Earl Spencer, entitled Diana, My Sister. Former Conservative cabinet minister Ann Widdecombe hosted a set of mock trials for a programme called Nothing But The Truth. The company has branched out into radio production. Projects include a BBC Radio 5 Live show for former Treasury press aide Charlie Whelan which is due to start in April. Geldof happy as public face
But the real power behind the company is seen to be Lord Alli - who left school at 16 and was made a peer at the age of 34. In recent years Tony Blair, Peter Mandelson and Culture Secretary Chris Smith have all been guests at his mansion in Kent. He sits on Panel 2000, a group which advises the government on how to present the right image abroad. Critics point to the way Planet 24 treats its mainly young workforce - long hours, low pay and a lack of job security. But others point out the other ways in which staff were rewarded - from free massages to sumptuous Christmas parties. ![]() |
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