Lord Puttnam in the frame for BBC chair as deadline looms

Along with Puttnam, most famous as a director of films such as 'Chariots of Fire' and 'The Killing Fields', David Dimbleby and former Financial Times editor Richard Lambert are also believed to be in the running.

As a long-standing admirer of the BBC, it is understood Lord Puttnam is a likely applicant, despite declining to comment on whether he had applied for the post.

The DCMS has appointed Odgers Ray & Berndtson, the executive recruitment firm, to spearhead its search for a replacement BBC chairman, with April being slated as the likely date for a final decision.

The successful candidate will be recommended to culture secretary Tessa Jowell, with final consent needed from Downing Street before an official announcement is made by Buckingham Palace.

Lord Puttnam, who will outline the importance of the BBC chairman in an article in this week's Spectator, said: "It is a very, very important job. I feel this very strongly. It is an important time for me and an important time for the BBC generally."

Although admired for his support of the BBC's World Class aid scheme for Africa through his work as president of Unicef UK, Lord Puttnam's close ties with the Labour party could be a potential stumbling block.

As reported on Brand Republic in December, the BBC is not expected to replace Grade until April, leaving a sizeable hole in the corporation's senior management at a crucial time in its history.

Among the other possible candidates for the chairman post are: Paul Myners, chairman of Guardian Media Group; Sir Howard Davies, principal of the London School of Economics and veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby.

The DCMS would not confirm who has applied to be BBC chair, and is expected to stay silent on the issue until the preferred candidate has been chosen.

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