• Swindon & Wiltshire Culture
• Tuesday June 4 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

TV pioneer appointed new chancellor of UWE Bristol

A pioneer of British television who is renowned for inventing the phenomenon of the celebrity chef has been appointed the new chancellor of the University of the West of England.

In the 1980s Sir Peter Bazalgette formed a TV production company which brought Ready Steady Cook, Changing Rooms and Ground Force to our TV screens. Later, as creative chief and chairman of Endemol, he was responsible for shows including Big Brother and the Bristol-based Deal or No Deal – formats that were sold across the world.

In his role as the chairman of the Arts Council England, Sir Peter championed partnership and inclusion across a range of creative industries, arts and cultural organisations and universities.

More recently he spent six years as non-executive chairman of ITV and three years on the UKRI board. His current roles include pro-chancellor and chair of the Council for the Royal College of Art, co-chair of the Creative Industries Council and non-executive board member for the UK Department for Education.

Last year, Sir Peter helped launch the Creative Industries Sector Vision, which sets out the shared ambition of the government and industry to support the UK’s creative industries, recognising the social and economic value of the creative industries to the UK.

Sir Peter said: “What an honour it is to become chancellor of a university which contributes so strongly to the creative industries. I hugely look forward to assisting UWE in its ambitious further development. Higher education is one of the UK’s jewels.”

UWE Bristol awarded Sir Peter an Honorary Doctor of Arts in 2016 for his contribution to media and the arts. He will officially take up the role of chancellor in July.

Professor Sir Steve West, vice-chancellor of UWE Bristol said: “The university has a longstanding relationship with Sir Peter and his deep understanding of the arts will be a source of great importance for UWE Bristol as we continue to deliver education and research across the creative industries and navigate some of the challenges facing the sector today.

“With his wealth of experience working with major broadcasters, advising political parties on strategy and investment in culture and creative industries, and many influential roles driving forward fundamental shifts in approaches to inclusivity within the sector, Peter will be a great asset to the university and we look forward to welcoming him.”

Sir Peter will succeed Sir Ian Carruthers OBE, who has served as UWE Bristol’s Chancellor for 13 years. Sir Ian has been awarded the honour of Chancellor Emeritus in recognition of his long-standing commitment to the University.