Former Channel 4 boss Michael Grade is set to become the chairman of the BBC.

The government is set to announce today that the broadcasting chief has been given the top job on the corporation's board of governors.

Despite his Daily Mail reputation as pro-porn, Grade is widely seen as a safe pair of hands and beat off competition from figures including Sir David Frost and Lord Watson.

His appointment is likely to be announced by culture secretary Tessa Jowell later this morning.