Private Eye

Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical magazine-newspaper. It is currently edited by Ian Hislop.

Ownership

The magazine is apparently owned by an odd and eclectic cartel of people, albeit officially published through the mechanism of a limited company called Pressdram Ltd , which was bought as an "off the shelf" company by Peter Cook in November 1961. Companies House Link – Pressdram Ltd

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Private Eye is not the kind of magazine to publish explicit details of individuals concerned with its upkeep (it notably doesn't even contain a "flannel panel" listing of who edits, writes and designs the magazine), but in 1981 the owners were quoted in the book The Private Eye Story as being Peter Cook, who owned most of the shareholding, with smaller shareholdings by the likes of Dirk Bogarde, Jane Asher, and several of those involved with the founding of the magazine. Most people on the list have since died, however, and it's not clear what happened to their shareholdings. Those concerned are reputedly contractually only able to sell their shareholdings at the price they originally paid for them.

Related Topics:
Dirk Bogarde - Jane Asher

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Shareholders as at date of last annual return (ie as at 26 March 2005) are (note: many of the shareholders have inherited shares):

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• Jane Asher
• Barbara Braden
• David Cash (also a director)
• Elizabeth Cook
• Lin Cook
• Barry Fantoni
• Tessa Fantoni
• Ian Hislop (also a director)
• Eileen Lewenstein
• Executor of Lord Farington
• Peter Cook (Productions) Ltd
• Private Eye (Productions) Ltd
• Anthony Rushton (also a director)
• Sarah Seymour
• Thomas Usbourne
• Brock van der Bogaerde.

The other directors are Sheila Molnar, who is also the company secretary, and Richard Ingrams.

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