A Licence to be Different: The Story of Channel 4 The Story of Channel 4

This book traces how the channel came about, and provides an account of its eventful history through a focus on key figures including Jeremy Isaacs, Liz Forgan, Phil Redmond, Michael Grade, Andrea Wonfor and Michael Jackson. It covers signature and stand-out (for good and bad reasons) C4 programs such as Right To Reply, The Tube, The Comic Strip Presents, The Big Breakfast, The Word, Brookside, Wife Swap and Faking it; the channel's success with American imports such as Hill Street Blues, Friends and Sex and the City, and the rise and fall of Film Four. Luke Johnson, Chairman of C4, has contributed a foreword for this book.

Maggie Brown is one of the UK’s leading media journalists. She writes for the Guardian’s media section and website, and also contributes to a range of other publications including the Evening Standard, The Stage and Radio Times. She was one of the founders of The Independent and, as its first media editor, started its media section. She is a trustee of the Sandford St Martin's Trust, which promotes excellence in religious broadcasting, and a regular jury member for the BAFTA and Royal Television Society awards.