Lord Michael Grade tipped as BBC Trust chair candidate
Lord Michael Grade has been tipped as a contender to be the next chair of the BBC Trust.
According to the Guardian, Lord Grade, a former controller of the BBC and chairman of the Board of Governors at the corporation, has applied for the role to replace Lord Chris Patten, as the formal list of interviewees was firmed up this week.
Grade has also held senior roles at ITV and Channel 4 since leaving the BBC, acting as chairman of the Channel 3 commercial broadcaster from 2006 - 2007.
The Guardian also added that sources claim that Grade would be “too unpalatable” for the corporation to wish his return.
The only known candidate on the BBC Trust shortlist of between four and five names was Scottish Widows chairman and recent BBC trustee, Nick Prettejohn.
Lord Patten stood down from a stormy reign at the BBC Trust in May citing health reasons.
Last year, Lord Grade, while speaking at The Drum Live, indicated that he would be willing to act as a figurehead for the establishment of a new regulatory body for the press in the UK.