NEW BBC chairman Michael Grade last night vowed to get the corporation "back on track" after the trauma of the Hutton Report.

The former Channel 4 boss said the BBC needed to move forward after its "battering".

And he thanked the Government for having the courage to "break the mould" by appointing him.

A colourful figure, Mr Grade was once dubbed Britain's "pornographer-in-chief" for bringing programmes such as The Word to Channel 4.

He fills the vacancy left by Gavyn Davies, who resigned after the Hutton Report into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly.

Mr Grade was greeted with applause by BBC staff at the Corporation's White City building in west London.

Hundreds of them lined the balcony above him in scenes reminiscent of the support given to former director-general Greg Dyke when he resigned.

Mr Grade told them: "The BBC has been through a battering. How much of it was of its own making and how much of it from outside, history will tell.

"An organisation as committed as this one could not have gone through what it has been through without feeling very bruised.

"The period of private anguish inside the BBC is over now. We can put it behind us."

Earlier yesterday, following the announcement of his appointment as chairman of the board of governors, Mr Grade said in a statement: "This is quite a day for me.

"Apart from my obvious pride and delight, I also feel my experience has prepared me to step into the role at a difficult moment in the corporation's history.

"I would like to thank those who appointed me for having the courage to break the mould."

He added: "The editorial independence of the BBC is paramount in maintaining the support of the viewers and listeners. Without it, there is no point to the BBC.

"It is my job, and the job of the whole board, to ensure the BBC can continue to earn public and parliamentary support so that the provision of universally available, value for money, public service broadcasting is neither jeopardised nor marginalised.

"Nothing must be allowed to deprive our children and our grandchildren of the rich experience we have come to expect and enjoy these past decades from the British Broadcasting Corporation."

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said: "Michael is the right man at the right time. 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."

Gavyn Davies predicted the BBC would reach "great new heights" under his leadership.

Tory shadow culture minister Julie Kirkbride said Mr Grade's wealth of experience made him an ideal candidate for the job while the "colourful and occasionally controversial" character would be relished by the corporation.

She said that having been "bullied" by the Government, the BBC needed a strong chairman to bolster confidence.

However, morality campaigners were less enthusiastic about Mr Grade's appointment.

John Beyer, director of Mediawatch-UK, said: "He did not earn the title pornographer-in-chief for nothing.

"It is absolutely incredible that the appointments committee, knowing his background, made this decision."

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