Sir Lyons likely to head BBC

LONDON: Sir Michael Lyons, British Government's adviser on council tax reforms, is expected to take over as the Chairman of BBC, edging out acting chairperson Chitra Bharucha, the first Indian to occupy the position and also one of the short-listed candidates, sources said on Saturday.

Besides Bharucha, other short-listed include Richard Hooper, former deputy chairman of Ofcom and Chris Powell, a director of advertising agency DDB London and brother of Jonathan, British Prime Minister Tony Blair's chief of staff.

The post vacated by Michael Grade's defection to ITV last year has proved surprisingly unpopular despite its 140,000 pounds salary, with a string of high-profile potential contenders ruling themselves out.

They included David Dimbleby, current affairs grandee, Lord Puttnam, former film producer, Richard Lambert, ex-Financial Times editor, Patricia Hodgson, former chief executive of the Independent Television commission and Sir Stuart Hampson, former chief executive of John Lewis.

The sources said the BBC is expected to announce Sir Michael's appointment shortly, after a selection panel chaired by a senior civil servant picked him from a four-strong shortlist. He must be approved by the culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, and then by the Privy council, which advises the Queen, before the Prime Minister stamps the decision.

57-year-old Sir Michael began his career as a market trader, subsequently becoming chief executive of three city councils and then professor of public policy at Birmingham University.