New BBC Trust members Announced By Tessa Jowell

The eight members to join the new BBC Trust have been announced by Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell.
They are Chitra Bharucha (vice-chair), Diane Coyle, Janet Lewis-Jones, Alison Hastings, Patricia Hodgson, Rotha Johnston, David Liddiment and Mehmuda Mian Pritchard.
They will join the chair, Michael Grade, and three former BBC governors - Dermot Gleeson, Jeremy Peat and Richard Tait - on the Trust, which is tasked with bringing the BBC closer to licence fee payers and ensuring that the BBC is accountable and transparent.
Michael Grade, the Chairman designate of the new BBC Trust, welcomed their appointment: "The new BBC Trust has a very different role from that of the Board of Governors it replaces.
"The new Charter requires that the Trust is independent of BBC management representing the interests of licence fee payers. One of our first tasks as Trustees will be to consult the public about the priorities we should set BBC management to meet the 'Six Public Purposes' laid out in the new Charter."
The 12 Trustees, from around the UK, bring a wide range of experience and expertise from broadcasting, regulation, newspapers, commerce, competition and economics.
The Trust will be responsible for representing the views of licence fee payers. It will apply the principle of public value in holding to account the Executive Board, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the BBC. The Trust will also ensure that the BBC's activities are not anti-competitive and are consistent with a vibrant and dynamic broadcasting market.
The Secretary of State's decision to overhaul the BBC's governance system was part of the recent charter review, which saw an unprecedented level of public involvement in determining the future of the BBC. The new 10-year charter was sealed on 19 September 2006.
Welcoming the appointments, which were made by Her Majesty the Queen by Order in Council, Jowell commented: "During the charter review, licence fee payers told us they wanted to see a BBC that listened and responded to their views, and as a result the Trust will oversee the BBC, consider the needs of a diverse audience, safeguard the BBC's independence and strive to ensure the corporation produces public services of the very highest quality."
The Trust will formally replace the BBC governors as the sovereign body of the BBC from 1 January 2007. Transitional arrangements are in place to ensure a seamless transfer of responsibilities.
(DS/SP)