BBC chairman decision 'imminent'

Gavyn Davies: Known to have Labour links

The five-month search for a new BBC chairman is expected to end on Wednesday when the name of the person to fill one of the most influential posts in UK broadcasting is announced.

Gavyn Davies, who has been vice-chairman for eight months, is widely expected to be officially named as Sir Christopher Bland's successor.

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The decision would bring protest from the Conservative party because of Mr Davies's strong Labour links.

Mr Davies has worked for previous Labour prime ministers and his wife is private secretary to chancellor Gordon Brown.

He would work with director general Greg Dyke, whose appointment was also criticised because he has made donations to the Labour party.

The nomination process for a new chairman has been carried out by an independent panel for the first time.

Mr Davies is widely expected to be the victor, according to the BBC's Torin Douglas.

"Everything seems to be pointing in that direction," he said.

"The panel appears to have named him and that certainly seems to be what the Tory party has been told."

But the chairman usually puts any personal political affiliations aside, he said.

"Once appointed, they don't do things by their own political past, they do it by the good of the BBC."

Final choice

A shortlist of six candidates, who were interviewed last week, was whittled down to two names - Mr Davies and broadcaster David Dimbleby - according to Mr Douglas.

The panel who made the decision was headed by Nicholas Kroll, acting permanent secretary at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

It also included Reuters chairman Sir Christopher Hogg, zoologist Professor Sir Brian Follett and Liz Forgan, former managing director of BBC network radio.

The final choice was made by culture secretary Tessa Jowell, with the decision ratified by the prime minister.

Convention

But the appointment can only be confirmed by the Queen after a meeting of the Privy council.

Also on the shortlist were Michael Grade, Baroness Jay of Paddington, John Ashworth and Dame Pauline Neville-Jones.

Past convention has seen a vice-chairman appointed with the opposite political leanings of the chairman.

But a new vice-chairman will be chosen by the same panel method, making recommendations on merit rather than political background.