Idris Elba considering bid for Channel 4.

Image Credit: Idris Elba/Facebook

Earlier this year Nadine Dorries announced plans to privatise Channel 4, claiming it was too much of a financial risk to the government. Despite huge public outcry, it seems the government are pushing ahead.

Channel 4 have long been champions of diverse voices, telling stories that other networks shied away from. From giving a home to The Desmond’s back in the 80s and 90s when it was rare to see a non-white face on BBC or ITV, to more recently with Derry Girls and It’s A Sin telling the stories of the troubles in Northern Ireland, and the AIDS crisis in England, they have always been a voice for the unheard. Many feared that selling Channel 4 could result in that voice being silenced.

But could we have a saving grace in the form of Idris Elba? Idris, 49, has been in talks with media entrepreneur Marc Boyan about working together on a bid reportedly worth £1bn to buy the network. Marc runs television production and marketing company Miroma, which also has a stake in the production company Buzz 16 which is co-owned by former footballer Gary Neville.

Idris Elba is a perfect fit for Channel 4, and continuing it’s legacy of serving those communities largely underserved by the media. He has long been a champion for more diversity on screen and behind the camera in the UK. He himself had to head across the pond to the USA to get his break in The Wire. He said he moved after “coming very close to hitting my head on the glass ceiling” for black actors in the UK, and that had he stayed here he never would have been given a leading role.

This wouldn’t be the actors first foray into business outside of acting. He boasts - no pun intended - a long CV including DJ, music producer, fashion designer, winemaker, bar owner, podcast host, record executive, and soon to be author. Could we be seeing him add network executive to that already impressive list?