Dennis Bacon, a Four in a Bed winner with a background in adult social care, is expected to become Norfolk County Council’s new chief executive.
A reality show winner is set to take on the £215,000-a-year role of chief executive at Norfolk County Council, with businessman Dennis Bacon due to join the Reform UK-led authority if his appointment clears the final formalities. Bacon, who won an episode of Channel 4’s Four in a Bed last year, is expected to start on 7 September if the council approves the move next week.
Bacon brings a background in adult social care as well as commercial experience. He runs a bed and breakfast in Norwich and spent 19 years as chairman of the Norfolk Independent Care Association, which represents more than 600 organisations and 11,000 staff across the adult social care sector. He has also served on the Norfolk and Waveney Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, a network involving local NHS organisations and councils, and has previously received an Outstanding Leadership in Public Services award from the county council.
The appointment follows the sudden departure of Tom McCabe, who left the post shortly after Reform took control of the authority in May. Bacon has been chosen to lead the council, but the decision is not yet final. It still needs the usual pre-employment checks and approval from the full council, which is scheduled to meet next week.
Reform leader David Bick said the council was impressed by Bacon’s mix of public and private sector experience. He said Bacon was focused on delivering value for money and quality services for Norfolk residents. The council report said 49 people applied for the job.
“Dennis Bacon, a Four in a Bed winner with a background in adult social care, is expected to become Norfolk County Council’s new chief executive.”
The recruitment process has already stirred political criticism. Opposition leaders have accused Reform of moving with extreme haste, and Kay Mason Billig, the former council leader and current Conservative leader, questioned the make-up of the cross-party panel, saying her party had no representation on it. The dispute has turned what might otherwise have been a routine senior appointment into a test of how the new administration is handling power.
Bacon’s rise also highlights the unusual mix of skills now being brought into local government, where experience in care, hospitality, and public service can all matter. His career has touched adult social care, the NHS-linked partnership network, and a small business in Norwich, while his television win added an unexpected public profile. The council’s vote next week will determine whether that combination now carries him into one of Norfolk’s most senior public jobs.
For Norfolk taxpayers, the key issue is simple: the county’s top official will shape how the council is run, so the approval process and the leadership choices behind it matter.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Dennis Bacon?
Dennis Bacon is a businessman with a background in Adult Social Care and hospitality. He also won an episode of Channel 4’s Four in a Bed last year.
Not yet. It still needs pre-employment checks and approval from the full council, which is due to meet next week.
Why has the process been criticized?
Opposition leaders said Reform moved with extreme haste, and Kay Mason Billig raised concerns that the Conservatives had no seat on the cross-party panel.
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