Thompson's return to the BBC

Thompson became chief executive of Channel Four in 2001

BBC director general Mark Thompson has unveiled his vision for the future of the corporation. His appointment in June this year heralded some of the most dramatic changes in the history of the BBC.

When Mark Thompson took over from Greg Dyke it was seen by many as the natural progression for a man who, before joining Channel Four in 2001, spent 20 years at the corporation.

Mr Thompson, 46, started at the bottom of the BBC ladder, joining the corporation as a production trainee in 1979.

After two years learning the ropes he became involved in launching the long-running consumer rights series Watchdog.

He went on to work on Breakfast Time and London Plus before being becoming output editor on Newsnight in 1985.

An Oxford graduate, he was appointed editor of the Nine O'Clock News in 1988 before joining the Panorama team.

Factual shows

Rising through the ranks, Mr Thompson became head of features before being appointed head of factual programmes in 1994.

The father-of-three is credited with playing a key role in the strength of such factual shows as Animal Hospital, Modern Times and Ready, Steady, Cook.

Animal Hospital with Rolf Harris was a big success for the BBC

As controller of BBC Two between 1996 to 1998, he presided over a number of critically acclaimed series including The Cops, The Royle Family, Our Mutual Friend and The Fast Show.

Factual programming during that time was also strong with the likes of Storyville, Naked, Back to the Floor and Ground Force.

His next job saw him presiding over output across the whole of the UK as director of national and regional broadcasting.

A restructure by then director general Greg Dyke saw Mr Thompson become director of television in April 2000.

'Creative deficit'

But the following year he left the BBC to become chief executive of Channel 4.

He began his tenure by announcing the station would make up the "creative deficit" in British television.

However, his first year in the job was marred by Boys and Girls, a ratings flop produced in conjunction with former DJ Chris Evans.

Boys and Girls - hosted by Vernon Kay - was axed after poor ratings

He also oversaw extensive cost-cutting that resulted in 200 redundancies and the closure of the Film Four production company.

Other casualties included long-running soap Brookside and unsuccessful breakfast show RI:SE.

More recently he brought in Five's Kevin Lygo as head of programming and initiated such new dramas as Shameless and No Angels.

The station is now back in profit, recording pre-tax profits in 2003 of £45m - the channel's highest since 1999.

But the station faces an uncertain future with the end of three of its biggest ratings winners - Friends, Frasier and Sex and the City - and the loss of chat show host Graham Norton to the BBC.