LONDON, Jan. 31, Reuter: The British Press speculated today on who would replace the Director General of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as a political row festered over his departure.
Alasdair Milne announced his resignation on Thursday for personal reasons in the wake of news bias charges against the corporation and controversy over its news programs, but the opposition Labour party said he might have even forced to quit because of government pressure.
BBC sources said Milne’s job was likely to be divided in two with the appointment of an executive administrator and an editor in chief.
The Liberal Guardian Newspaper said in a FrontPage headline today that the BBC governors planned to curb the powers of the new BBC chief.
BBC chairman Marmaduke Hussey said the Director General’s vacancy would be advertised in British Sunday newspapers.
Among those tipped to replace Milne in the 70,000 sterling (106,000 dollars) a year job were Brian Wenham, head of BBC radio, Channel Four’s Chief Executive Jeremy Isaacs and the former Editor of the Times of London and Sunday Times newspapers, Harold Evans.
Labour politicians, enraged’ at what they described as official meddling in the BBC, warned the government not to interfere in the appointment of Milne’s successor.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 6, 1987
