BBC hires Tate chief as new arts editor

The BBC has hired Tate director Will Gompertz as its first ever arts editor after announcing plans to create the new role last year, reports The Guardian.

The corporation introduced the new position as part of its efforts to demonstrate a "deeper commitment to arts and music on the BBC in 2010".

It will be equivalent to the role which Nick Robinson currently fulfils for political coverage or Robert Peston for business.

Along with acting as director of Tate Media, Gompertz is also a performer and recently appeared in front of audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe for his one-man show Double Art History.

Speaking to the Diary, Gompertz said that it was "a wrench" to move on from the Tate, but the chance to take up the BBC's newly-created role proved too good to miss.

"I always thought I would never leave," he explained. "But when [BBC director general] Mark Thompson announced they were creating this role, I thought it was something to be applauded."