Search on for BBC successors

The search has started for two high-profile media figures to replace Gavyn Davies as chairman and Greg Dyke as BBC director general after their resignations over the Hutton Report.

BBC News Online details some of the possible candidates for two of the most difficult jobs in the industry:

Possible chairman candidates:

Baroness Jay was previously a candidate for BBC chairman

Baroness Jay of Paddington, 64, was a serious candidate for the chairman's job three years ago, and was seen as one of the great successes of the Blair government in the Lords, winning respect on all sides of the Chamber. She inherited her political zest from her father, former prime minister Lord Callaghan, becoming leader of the Lords in the 1998 Cabinet reshuffle. A mother of three, she held various production posts with BBC TV in current affairs and further education, and worked as a reporter on Panorama. Now retired from politics, she has been active in the Aids field and the Help the Aged charity.

David Dimbleby, 64, one of the best-known figures in TV political journalism, has been presenter and chairman of BBC One's Question Time since 1994. Son of the former doyen of British TV presenters, Richard Dimbleby, and brother of fellow broadcaster Jonathan, he will score points in the current climate as one of the BBC's most trusted and trustworthy broadcasters. First a reporter for, then presenter of Panorama, he sold his family business of regional newspapers to Newsquest in 2001 in a deal reported to be worth around £12m in cash.

Patricia Hodgson , 56, former chief executive of the now defunct Independent Television Commission, built up a formidable reputation as head of the regulatory body for commercial broadcasters before it was overtaken by Ofcom, the media's new "super regulator". At the BBC she was one of the corporation's most senior executives under Lord Birt, working as director of planning and policy. Gained a reputation as a strategist and political fixer, and in her later role criticised the BBC for making reality programmes such as Celebrity Sleepover.

Michael Portillo is a former Defence Secretary and Tory MP and was once seen as a future leader of the Conservative party. Since stepping out from the political limelight he has seen his public profile rise with appearances on TV as a presenter of documentaries and his image has softened over time. In the light of the Hutton Report he has spoken out about the need for the BBC to remain editorially independent and "not be frightened of the government".

Richard Lambert is a former editor of the Financial Times, and headed the government investigation into BBC News 24, the corporation's rolling news channel, last year. In 2003 he was appointed to the Bank of England monetary policy committee, which monitors interest rates.

Possible director general candidates:

Mark Byford aged 45, is currently the acting director general following Mr Dyke's resignation. He was appointed BBC deputy director general in January to take charge of the corporation's newly-enhanced complaints' operation and he also leads the BBC's global news division, with overall responsibility for the World Service and BBC World, and is responsible across the BBC for all pre- and post-broadcast programme compliance. An award-winning BBC journalist, he has been with the corporation for 24 years.

Mark Thompson, 45. Once regarded as the director general's heir apparent, Thompson spent 20 years at the corporation before leaving in 2001 to become chief executive of Channel 4 where he promised to rein in spending on the network's commercial arm and refocusing resources on its core public service broadcasting remit. He was memorably described by former BBC World Service managing director John Tusa as "Rodney to Greg Dyke's Del Boy". His cause may not be helped by complaining in 2002 that the BBC was wading in a "jacuzzi of cash".

Dawn Airey, 43, is currently the managing director of Sky networks after leaving her post of chief executive at Five in 2002. She was tipped as possible head of the newly merged Granada and Carlton last year. She was criticised for some of the content on Five during her reign, and may be seen as too populist a successor for Mr Dyke. She said in a newspaper interview last year, however: "I'm good at spotting trends, and talent. I bring great teams together."

Lorraine Heggessey is a possible candidate for director general

Lorraine Heggessey, 46, controller of BBC One, is credited in some quarters with revitalising the network in its fight back against ITV1's dominance in entertainment and drama - notably with a feisty EastEnders and dramas such as Clocking Off and Cutting It. Critics accuse her of presiding over a dumbing down of the channel, overlooking current affairs and banishing serious arts coverage. A key player in the licence renewal of 2006, she sacked Angus Deayton over his private life.

Jenny Abramsky, 54, is director of BBC Radio and Music in which role she is responsible for all of the BBC's national and digital stations. She has a strong news background which could have a large bearing in a decision post-Hutton. She is the former director of the BBC's Continuous News department, where she launched BBC News 24 - the 24-hour television news channel - and BBC News Online. She joined the BBC in 1969 and is also a former head of news and current affairs radio.