Felicity Goodey - on why it's right to bring the BBC to Salford

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The woman who brokered the deal to bring the BBC to Salford responds to the scheme’s critics

We have become well acquainted in recent months with headlines bemoaning the transfer of several BBC departments from stylish cosmopolitan London, to a northern outpost in the back of beyond.

A number of famous faces have expressed their dislike at the proposals which will inevitably mean they’ll have to leave their comfortable lives in the south east to live in a back-to-back terrace with no mod cons in Salford.

But Felicity Goodey, the woman who brokered the deal which saw the creation of Media City by the banks of the Irwell, laughs off the scare-mongering headlines.

Felicity, who made the move north from London herself more than 30 years ago said: ‘I came north as the BBC’s industrial correspondent. My editor at the time said I’d be back in London within 30 days - but I’m still here.

‘The criticism and sniping about such a person not coming is water of a duck’s back to me. When you uproot a major part of a work force there’s always going to be people who can’t make the move - they will all have families, roots and reasons not to want to move.

‘A few high profile presenters have got on their high horses and said they won’t come to the north but I’ve always believed that you shouldn’t believe your own publicity. No-one is bigger than the BBC or the programme and the BBC will always find new people - we’ll be very sorry if certain people don’t make the move but it won’t be the end of the world.

‘In most cases industry works on about 20 per cent of people making the move, the BBC worked on 30 per cent coming north but the number is actually nearer 50 per cent. There’s now a clamour of other departments knocking on the door asking to move.

‘It is a bit irritating when it gets publicity but people who have worked at the BBC know the papers don’t love the BBC and the stories we’ve seen are, to a certain extent, to be expected.’

Felicity, who presented North West Tonight for many years, left broadcasting to be a founder member of the North West Development Agency. She has since become one of the leading lights in urban regeneration across Lancashire, particularly in Salford where she has been a key figure the city’s re-birth.

She was instrumental in the Lowry scheme and, after securing the Media City deal, has been involved in projects transform the city’s centre and to improve water quality in the Irwell.

‘I have been adopted by Salford - I love Salford and Salford people,’ she said. ‘They’re pretty tough and they don’t suffer fools gladly. And they are rightly proud of their city and don’t want it to go back to the bad old days.’

But the mother-of-two has interests further afield too. She is chair of tourism in the North West, and of Wythenshawe Hospital, and has been appointed to the advisory panel of the new Regional Growth Fund which is chaired by Lord Heseltine and aims to stimulate job creation.

And most recently she became president of the wildlife trust in Cheshire, where she lives with husband John Marsh. ‘It’s a tremendous honour,’ she said. ‘I practically grew up outdoors and I love the countryside across the North West. I spend a lot of time near the River Wyre where my husband fishes a lot.’

Felicity Goodey

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