This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/jun/29/bbc-trust-director-general

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
BBC Trust moves closer to appointing new director general BBC Trust moves closer to appointing new director general
(40 minutes later)
The BBC Trust has taken a step closer to appointing a new director general with the three favourite candidates being asked for a second round of interviews. The BBC Trust has taken a step closer to appointing a new director general to replace Mark Thompson with the three favourite candidates being asked for a second round of interviews for the chance to become Britain's most powerful television executive.
It is understood that BBC chief operating officer Caroline Thomson, BBC Vision director George Entwistle and Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards have made the final shortlist. It is understood that BBC chief operating officer Caroline Thomson, BBC Vision director George Entwistle and Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards have made the final shortlist for a job that is expected to have a salary of about £400,000 a year. According to sources there may be a fourth candidate on the list but it is not yet known who it is.
According to sources there may be a fourth candidate on the list but it is not yet known who it is. Thomson is a BBC veteran who has handled policy and strategy and is married to Roger Liddle, a former adviser to Tony Blair, but she has not worked on a programme since the 1980s.
Those on the shortlist are expected to be interviewed on the same day and will be quizzed for about an hour and a half. Entwistle, a former editor of Newsnight, runs the BBC's TV channels.
They will be questioned by the BBC Trust heads of committees and it is thought that a decision will be made at the end of that day. Richards previously advised both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown on media policy before joining Ofcom.
It is understood that eight people were interviewed by BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten and his deputy Diane Coyle at a central London hotel, including BBC director of news Helen Boaden and BBC head of audio & music Tim Davie. Those on the final shortlist are expected to be interviewed on the same day and will be quizzed for about an hour and a half on their plans for the corporation, which will have to defend the existence of the compulsory licence fee in an era of unrivalled choice for viewers.
Other candidates named as having been interviewed include Financial Times editor Lionel Barber and former Ofcom chief executive officer Lord Carter. Candidates will be questioned by a group of BBC Trustees, those who head each of its committees, and it is thought that a decision will be made at the end of that day. The preferred candidate is expected to be named before the start of the London Olympics, which begin on 27 July.
The BBC Trust had not commented at time of publication. It is understood that eight people were interviewed by BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten and his deputy Diane Coyle at a central London hotel, including BBC director of news Helen Boaden and BBC head of audio and music Tim Davie. It is not known for certain if either Boaden or Davie have made the final shortlist.
Other candidates named as having been interviewed include Financial Times editor Lionel Barber and former Ofcom chief executive officer Lord Carter. The BBC Trust did not comment.
• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".
• To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook.• To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook.