Tessa Jowell has promised that top figures from all political parties will be considered for the post of BBC chairman.

The culture secretary told MPs that ruling out applicants from politics could rob the BBC of some of the best candidates.

Meanwhile, the corporation has been accused of "editorial cowardice" after it cancelled a satirical radio programme about the Hutton report.

Mark Tavener, the writer of the comedy Absolute Power, said Radio 4 bosses halted this week's episode because they were worried about upsetting Number 10.