Cut!

摘要

As plot twists go, the announcement on August 8th that Charles Allen, the much-criticised boss of ITV, was to resign was no shocker. Britain's biggest commercial broadcaster has had a torrid few years. Shareholders have been increasingly restive since they beat off a private-equity bid in March and saw shares shed over a fifth of their value. During a disastrous summer season, ITV1'S audience share has at times fallen as low as 16%. Its coverage of World Cup football was tedious and once successful shows such as Love Island (which strands nubile youngsters on a tropical island, with disappointingly non-porno-graphic results) achieved abysmal ratings.