Idris Elba is in talks with UK marketing network Miroma to support its estimated £1bn bid for Channel 4, according to a report.
’The Sunday Times’ claimed the Luther and The Harder They Fall star and Green Door founder is in discussions with Miroma chief executive Marc Boyan to spearhead its proposed acquisition of the broadcaster.
Miroma emerged in October as an early potential buyer, ahead of the UK government’s decision to push ahead with privatisation of Channel 4.
Michael Grade, the recently-installed chair of Ofcom, has links to Miroma via event marketing firm R4E but has pledged to sever ties in the event of a conflict of impartiality.
In its report, The Sunday Times revealed that former Viacom executive Philip O’Ferrall is leading a rival consortium bid for C4. O’Ferrall departed Viacom as commercial chief (now Paramount) in 2018 to focus on Travesty, his indie with Alan Carr, and to become chief exec of Blackstone-owned The Outernet Global, a group of immersive entertainment venues.
The pair of potential bidders are among a group of 25 interested parties surrounding the sales process which is being led by investment bank JP Morgan, with ITV, Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery also thought to be in the running.
The government is still working out the terms of a sale, culture secretary Nadine Dorries recently told a DCMS committee.
This story was first published by Screen’s sister title Broadcast.
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