DCMS delays BBC Trust vice-chairman hunt

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has delayed the appointment of a new BBC Trust vice-chairman following chairman Sir Michael Lyons' decision to step down.

Interviews started last month to replace current vice-chair Chitra Bharucha after it was announced in June that she would leave the BBC's governing body this autumn.

Former newspaper editor Ian Hargreaves and ex-home secretary Jacqui Smith were understood to have applied for the position.

According to The Guardian, DCMS has now delayed the process of searching for a new deputy in light of Lyons's announcement that he would not seek a second term.

A source said that the government will instead try to appoint both roles simultaneously in order to create the optimum working relationship between them.

"The rationale is that the two need to complement each other so there is no point appointing a vice-chair until the new chairman is decided," they said.

It is thought that the chairman's post will be advertised later this month, with outgoing Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy and YouGov chairman Roger Parry in the running, along with former Marks & Spencer chief executive Sir Stuart Rose and current BBC trustee Dame Patricia Hodgson.

A DCMS spokeswoman said: "The post of vice-chairman was recently advertised. However, following Sir Michael Lyons's decision not to seek reappointment as chairman of the BBC Trust, the final decision on the appointment of vice-chairman will not be made until the new chairman has been identified."

However, the department is thought to be close to appointing a new trustee for Wales to replace the outgoing Janet Lewis-Jones.