Salmon to lead new BBC North base

Mr Salmon is married to ex-Coronation Street actress Sarah Lancashire

Peter Salmon has been made director of BBC North - the corporation's new base in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester.

Mr Salmon, the former controller of BBC One and currently in charge of in-house programme making, will take up his new post next summer.

The new broadcasting centre will house 2,500 staff with about 1,500 jobs moving there from London.

He will be responsible for BBC Sport, Radio 5 Live and all children's output, which is all moving from London.

BBC director general Mark Thompson said Mr Salmon would "lead the development of the world's most advanced broadcasting centre".

"He commands huge respect across the BBC and the wider media industry and I am very pleased he is taking up this exciting new role," Mr Thompson added.

I want to help build a world class, creative powerhouse for the BBC based in the North of England but networked into the whole UK Peter Salmon

He said he could not "think of anyone better qualified than Peter to lead this bold venture".

Mr Salmon said the new project could "define the way the BBC works for a generation".

"I want to help build a world class, creative powerhouse for the BBC based in the north of England but networked into the whole UK," he said.

He said he would be sad to leave his current role leading "the biggest and best group of content makers in the world".

But, he added: "I am really happy that I will still be working with many of them in Salford Quays."

Mr Salmon, who took over as head of BBC Vision Studios in 2006, ran BBC One between 1997 and 2000, before becoming head of BBC Sport.

He is married to former Coronation Street actress Sarah Lancashire.