BBC chief to enter Lords

Sir John Birt with his successor, Greg Dyke

The outgoing director-general of the BBC, Sir John Birt, is to leave the Corporation two months earlier than expected to start work as a life peer.

Sir John, who has held his BBC post since 1992, was awarded the peerage in the New Year's honours list.

After hearing of the accolade, he said he would be leaving the BBC on 28 January to take up his seat as a cross-bencher in the House of Lords.

Sir John, with his wife Jane, after receiving a knighthood in 1998

Sir John said: "This is splendid recognition of the value and strength of the BBC as an institution.

"I am flattered to be honoured personally in this way - and I am pleased at the prospect of making a wider contribution to British national life in the Lords."

BBC Chairman Sir Christopher Bland said the peerage was a "greatly and richly deserved honour" for Sir John, who is to be replaced by BBC director-general designate Greg Dyke.

'Creative and exciting time'

"Although we are sorry that John is to leave two months earlier than we had planned, Greg Dyke will have benefited from a three-month handover period and is ready to take up the reins from the end of January," he said.

Mr Dyke said: "John and I go back many years together and I am delighted for him. I am looking forward enormously to taking the helm and leading the BBC staff through what I hope will be a tremendously creative and exciting time."

Sir John, 55, was educated in Crosby, Merseyside and at Oxford University and was director of programmes at London Weekend Television before he was appointed BBC deputy director general in 1987.