The outcome of the Hutton inquiry could have an impact on the future structure of the BBC, the culture secretary has said.

In a newspaper interview published on Friday, Tessa Jowell revealed that the Hutton inquiry will help to shape the future of the BBC and the role of its board of governors.

The Cabinet minister with responsibility for the media warned that the government is set to begin a "radical and wide-ranging review" about renewing the BBC's charter.

"I will consider very carefully any recommendations and conclusions which can be drawn from the Hutton inquiry in relation to the BBC," she said.

The comments came amid criticism that the governors, who are supposed to represent the interests of licence fee payers, were too quick to side with BBC news chiefs during the row over the government's weapons claims.

Lord Hutton will examine the issues surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly, the scientist who committed suicide after becoming embroiled in a row between ministers and the BBC.

But while Hutton may be able to make suggestions on the future relations between ministers and the national broadcaster, Jowell insisted the recent spat will not colour the charter review.

"I hope the row between the government and the BBC will be resolved by the Hutton inquiry, the charter review is a quite separate process," she said to the Times.

It would be wrong for her to "second guess" decisions made by the governors, including their backing for the weapons story, she added.

But Jowell emphasises the special role of the BBC in being publicly funded.

"The BBC, and the trust people hold in it, has an important place in this country," she said.

"Trust is important for public institutions and government. We should never take it for granted because it is easy to lose and hard to rebuild.

"It is important that broadcasters continue to show that they are worthy of that trust."

On the relationship between politicians and the wider media, Jowell says that they have been soured by a "brush of cynicism".

She said people do not enter politics to "tell lies and cheat, but that is how we are painted by the media - we're all tarred by this brush of cynicism".

"I will always defend the freedom of the press, even if I say so through gritted teeth given the daily dose of abuse it delivers to us."

And the loyal Blairite defends the prime minister's director of communications Alastair Campbell, despite speculation that he is set to quit over his role in the BBC row.

"Alastair is a good friend of mine. I admire him," Jowell said. "He has been fighting so hard to set the record straight," because of the weight of the charges brought against him by the media.

"But we should now take a deep breath, stand back and let the Hutton inquiry takes its course."