Grade to be named as BBC chairman

The impending appointment of Michael Grade as the new chairman of the BBC is already causing controversy.

The former Channel 4 boss's appointment to the helm of the BBC will be officially announced by Downing Street.

He will fill the vacancy left by Gavyn Davies, who departed after the Hutton report into the death of Dr David Kelly.

Shadow culture minister Julie Kirkbride said Grade's wealth of experience made him an ideal candidate for the job. She said the "colourful and occasionally controversial" character would be relished by the corporation.

But campaigner Mediawatch-UK said the appointment "beggared belief".

Ms Kirkbride said: "We welcome this appointment. The BBC needs its confidence restored after Hutton. We're pleased to see that the Government desisted from making a political appointee, which we believe would be wrong.

"We look forward to Michael Grade being a success as BBC chair, in what is a crucial time for the BBC with the discussions over the future of the charter.

"He has huge broadcasting experience at every level as well as experience with other companies. He is colourful and occasionally controversial but the BBC will relish him."

She added: "Broadcasting is clearly in his blood. The BBC has been through a very difficult time. It has been bullied by the Government. It needs a strong chairman for the BBC to have confidence in, and to allow BBC staff to carry on making excellent television."

Mr Grade has long coveted the BBC chairmanship, previously insisting that he would be "too independent" for the powers that be to choose him. Tory heavyweight Norman Tebbit once said of him: "Thank God Michael Grade is not director general of the BBC or we'd face a demand for doubled licence fees and have twice as much dirt, smut and other rubbish on its channels."

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