The government is reportedly planning to announce the new chairman of the BBC Trust on Thursday April 5.

Tax adviser Sir Michael Lyons is the favourite to replace Michael Grade, who left the role in December to join ITV as its executive chairman.

A former market trader, Lyons, went on to become chief executive of three city councils, and professor of public policy at Birmingham University. He also carried out a recent local government finance review for Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Other names linked to the £140,000-a-year job include the BBC's acting chair Chitra Bharucha, former Ofcom deputy chairman Richard Hooper, and director of advertising agency DDB London, Chris Powell.

Media secretary Tessa Jowell has final approval on the candidate selection, which then has to be confirmed by the prime minister, the Privy Council and the Queen.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has said an announcement will be made shortly, with Number 10 insiders hopeful of an announcement before the Easter weekend.