The culture secretary has said the commissioner for public appointments will oversee the appointment of a new BBC chairman.

Speaking on Sunday, Tessa Jowell said Dame Rennie Fritchie had been asked to preside over the procedure in order to ensure the public had confidence in the process.

Following the fallout from the Hutton report and fears that the corporation’s independence may be under threat, the Cabinet minister with responsibility for the media said the decision would ensure an impartial choice was made.

“So seriously do I and the prime minister take the importance of confidence in the process that we intend to enhance it by having the independent process,” she told the BBC’s Breakfast with Frost programme.

“But it will be overseen by a scrutiny panel convened by Dame Rennie Fritchie, the commissioner for public appointments.”

The government had already announced that Gavyn Davies’ replacement would be appointed under the Nolan rules for the selection of senior public servants.

Independence pledge

And Jowell also repeated her insistence that the BBC’s independence would not be compromised.