Murphy calls in lawyers over RDF share dispute

by Alex Donohue, brandrepublic.com, 20 April 2006, 11:00AM

LONDON - Former BBC Three controller Stuart Murphy, who left the independent TV production house RDF after only three months, is understood to have called in his lawyers after losing out on a contract that would have entitled him to £1m worth of shares after three years.

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Murphy, who left RDF on April 7, gave no official reason for his departure, but it is believed he had been unhappy with his new role since joining in January. His absence from the Mip TV conference in Cannes at the beginning of April was a sign that his days were numbered.

According to Broadcast, Murphy was asked not to return to RDF after taking a two-week holiday at the end of March. Murphy, who is the former controller of BBC Three, joined RDF after being offered a lucrative deal that entitled him to £1m worth of shares after three years' service.

It is believed a clash of creative ideas and management style was a factor in Murphy's early departure from RDF.

RDF has so far declined to comment on Murphy's contract dispute, or whether it has started the process of finding a replacement.

Murphy's successes at BBC Three, particularly in overseeing the development of 'Little Britain' and 'Casanova', made him seem an ideal acquisition for RDF, which has been keen to bolster the development of its hit programmes, 'Wife Swap', 'Faking It' and 'Shipwrecked'.

A source told Broadcast that: "It has gone to the lawyers now. Stuart is really upset. He was due to get £1m in shares three years down the line."

Murphy has so far not made any public statement over his contract dispute with RDF.

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