UPDATED: Grade is new BBC chairman

 03:59 BST, Friday 2nd April 2004 -- by James Welsh

Michael Grade is the new chairman of the BBC.

In the formal announcement, Grade said: "This is quite a day for me.

"Apart from my obvious pride and delight, I also feel my experience has prepared me to step into the role at a difficult moment in the Corporation's history.

"I would like to thank those who appointed me for having the courage to break the mould.

"I would also like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Gavyn Davies, who gave so much to support the ideals of the Corporation and who showed great courage and dignity in the manner of his departure.

"The editorial independence of the BBC is paramount in maintaining the support of the viewers and listeners. Without it, there is no point to the BBC.

"It is my job, and the job of the whole board, to ensure that the BBC can continue to earn public and parliamentary support so that the provision of universally available, value for money, public service broadcasting is neither jeopardised nor marginalised.

"Nothing must be allowed to deprive our children and our grandchildren of the rich experience we have come to expect and enjoy these past decades from the British Broadcasting Corporation."

The sixty-one year old Grade brings a wealth of media experience to the position. In 1973, he became deputy controller of entertainment programmes at London Weekend Television, and joined the BBC as Controller of BBC One in 1984, where he was responsible for scheduling the now-popular, then-new soap opera EastEnders. By 1986, he was BBC Television's director of programmes. He is, however, mostly known for his 1988-1997 position as Channel 4's chief executive. During his tenure at the station, a Daily Mail columnist labelled him "pornographer in chief," but more importantly he is generally credited with presiding over a period of audience share growth and sound financial management.

One of Grade's first tasks will be to take charge of the process of appointing a new Director-General, with speculation now focusing on exactly who will take up that position.