16. Julian Bellamy

Bellamy: returned to Channel 4 after barely a year in charge of BBC3.
Job: head of programming, Channel 4
Age: 36
Industry: broadcasting
Annual programming budget: £510m
2006 ranking: 78

Julian Bellamy is the only Channel 4 executive in this year's list not to have been damaged by the Celebrity Big Brother race row. Probably because he was not there when it happened: the former BBC3 controller was appointed as Channel 4's head of programming in March.
It remains to be seen how Bellamy's relationship will work with the man he in effect replaced - and who he leapfrogs in this year's MediaGuardian 100 - Kevin Lygo.

Previously director of television with responsibility for the day-to-day running of the channel, Lygo moved upstairs to a more strategic role as director of television and content. But will he be able to let go?

"Bellamy is the only executive from Channel 4 who was not damaged by Celebrity Big Brother," said one of our panellists. "Lygo is down, [chief executive] Andy Duncan is down and [chairman] Luke Johnson is down.

"But Bellamy is new in the job and that is always a powerful position to be in. He can do what he wants. The field is wide open."

Channel 4's audience fell faster than any other terrestrial channel in the first six months of the year - a 9.1% audience share compared with 10.2% in the same period in 2006.

Bellamy had his own controversy to deal with when Channel 4 aired its documentary about the death of Princess Diana. The row passed relatively quickly and will be a footnote to Channel 4's year. Unfortunately for Lygo, the Celebrity Big Brother race row looks likely to be its defining moment.

Bellamy knows all about Channel 4. In an eight-year stint until 2005, he was its head of current affairs, head of factual entertainment - commissioning The Salon and The Sex Inspectors - and commissioning editor for Big Brother. He was also head of E4.

He returned to Channel 4 after barely a year in charge of BBC3, where his credits included Bafta-nominated comedies Little Miss Jocelyn and Pulling. He also oversaw Doctor Who spin-off, Torchwood.

Under Bellamy, BBC3 also became known for "shock" documentaries with titles guaranteed to stand out on the electronic programme guide: Fuck Off ... I'm Fat, Me and My Man Breasts, Teens Addicted to Porn and Fat Men Can't Hunt.

Bellamy said BBC3 was a "great platform for commissioning original content across all genres" but that Channel 4 "additionally represents an opportunity to introduce innovations in terms of talent and ideas to a mainstream audience".

Bellamy began his career as a freelance assistant producer. He worked in current affairs programmes including ITV's World In Action and The Big Story, and Dispatches on Channel 4. He was appointed editor of current affairs at Channel 4 in 1998.

He is also something of a soothsayer, telling Channel 4 news and current affairs supremo Dorothy Byrne early in his career that he would one day run Channel 4. He promised to keep her on or give her a big fat pay-off.

"He's absolutely straight and fair, and really good at getting the best out of people," said Byrne. "My only objection to him is that he's a bit tall."