Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Michael Dobbs back with Maurice Saatchi after playing cards right

Lord Dobbs first worked for the original Saatchi & Saatchi between 1983 and 1991

Nick Goodway
Saturday 19 December 2015 02:17 GMT
Comments
Actor Ian Richardson as the scheming Francis Urquhart in ‘House of Cards’
Actor Ian Richardson as the scheming Francis Urquhart in ‘House of Cards’ (BBC)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Michael Dobbs, author of the House of Cards TV trilogy, is to be reunited with Maurice Saatchi 25 years after he left the advertising industry to become a best-selling writer.

Lord Dobbs, 67, a key adviser to Margaret Thatcher and a survivor of the Brighton bombing, will join the ad agency M&C Saatchi as a non-executive director at the start of 2016. He will be reunited with Lord Saatchi, who is still an executive director.

Asked if the return of Lord Dobbs meant M&C Saatchi would be targeting the Conservative party’s advertising account for the 2020 election, chief executive David Kershaw said: “You might think that; I couldn’t possibly comment.”

That, of course, was the catchphrase of Francis Urquhart, the scheming politician played by Ian Richardson in the BBC’s version of House of Cards in the Nineties.

Lord Dobbs first worked for the original Saatchi & Saatchi, founded by the brothers Maurice and Charles, between 1983 and 1991 and became deputy chairman. After that he became a newspaper columnist and presenter for the BBC’s Despatch Box programme.

His political life began in 1977 as adviser to Mrs Thatcher. He went on to be deputy chairman of the party under John Major. As an adept political operator, he was dubbed “Westminster’s baby-faced hitman”.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in