Former Channel 4 boss Michael Grade has been confirmed as the chairman of the BBC.

He will take up his new post on May 17.

"This is quite a day for me," he said.  "I would like to thank those who appointed me for having the courage to break the mould."

Grade is widely seen as a safe pair of hands despite developing a reputation "pornographer in chief" during his time at Channel 4.

He beat off competition from figures including Baroness Young, David Dimbleby and Lord Watson for the £80,000 a year post.

The appointment was overseen by an independent scrutiny panel chaired by Dame Rennie Fritchie which included Lord Steel, Jack Cunningham and former Met chief Lord Condon.

"We have met twice with representatives from the selection panel, have seen all the relevant paperwork, and have been kept fully in the
picture throughout the process," said Dame Rennie.

"We have examined the process thoroughly and rigorously and have been entirely satisfied both in the design, implementation and outcome."

Commercialisation?

Grade's appointment, which could fuel fears of greater commercialisation at the BBC, was announced by culture secretary Tessa Jowell on Friday.

"Michael is the right man at the right time," she said.

"He has a passion for broadcasting, especially public service broadcasting. He knows it inside out.  And he has the energy to lead the BBC from the front, defending its independence and integrity from all comers.

"The Nolan appointment process, exceptionally aided by Dame Rennie Fritchie's scrutiny panel, has produced a chairman the BBC can be truly proud of."

He replaces acting chairman Lord Ryder, who has also announced he still stand down from the board of governors.

The vacancy arose when Gavyn Davies quit in the wake of scathing criticism from the Hutton inquiry.

Grade's new post - which does not give him day to day editorial control - is less intensive than his previous media roles.

New DG

His first task will be to chair the process of appointing a new director general following the resignation of Greg Dyke.

Grade will also have to liaise with ministers over the corporation's charter review and will have to boost morale within the BBC's workforce following months of uncertainty in the wake of the Hutton inquiry.

The broadcasting chief has a long reputation at the head of the UK industry.

He started out as a trainee journalist on the Daily Mirror in 1960.

In 1973 he became deputy controller of LWT - following in the career footsteps of his uncles Lord Grade and Bernard Delfont.

He was later director of programmes at the BBC until 1998, when he left for Channel 4 after a clash with then-director general John Birt.

Some suggest he may clash again with any new director general, who is still to be appointed, unless he recognises his supervisory role over the corporation.