When Tony Gallagher left the Daily Mail to become editor-in-chief of the Sun in September, the appointment took many by surprise. On top of Gallagher previously denying the rumours, many thought that the paper’s showbiz supremo Gordon Smart would be handed the reins.
Gallagher’s appointment was seen as Rupert Murdoch’s way of ‘sticking two fingers up to the establishment’ thanks to his focus on breaking political stories rather than brown-nosing politicians. But his transition into the Sun way of life has already wrought unusual changes. His call for fewer reality television stories went down like a tonne of bricks in some quarters of the paper. So, could there be trouble in paradise?
Mr S only asks after the rumour mill went into overdrive following news that Smart is leaving his role editing the Scottish edition in order to relocate back to London. The Guardian reports that Smart is expected to join as a deputy editor. Mr S’s information is different: that Gallagher has appointed him no3, not deputy editor.
With deputy editor Simon Cosyns expected to remain in his role, Smart may not be in his role for long. The Showbiz role at The Sun has long been a catapult for the top job – Piers Morgan and Andy Coulson both did that beat. So there’s little surprise that Steerpike hears that Smart will be treated as an editor-in-waiting, should Gallagher move to Murdoch’s Sunday Times. ‘At this rate, Tony will be at the Sunday Times by the end of the year,’ Mr S’s mole whispers.
A Sun spokesman declined to comment.
Comments