Jonathan Wall hired to lead BBC 5 live

JONATHAN Wall has been appointed as controller of Salford-based BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra.

Mr Wall has been acting controller of the station, which has around 200 staff, since the resignation of Adrian Van Klaveren in December.

He was forced to step down following an investigation into the Newsnight programme that falsely linked Lord McAlpine to child sex abuse.

He was involved in the programme because he had been seconded to oversee any coverage relating to Jimmy Savile and child sexual abuse more generally.

Director of BBC North Peter Salmon said: “Jonathan has shown enormous commitment to BBC Radio 5 live already and now earns the right to take on one of the best controller roles in the BBC.

“He played a crucial role in the highly successful move of the station to Salford and helped build a talent roster and schedule that has just clocked up a record number of successive quarters of over six million listeners. More than anything, Jonathan has a passion for Radio 5 live’s audience and I am certain he is going to make a superb station leader.”

Mr Wall began his career at BBC Radio Humberside before moving into BBC Sport. He later became editor of 5live Sport before being appointed deputy controller and commissioning editor of 5 live in July 2008.

He said: “It’s a privilege to be given this opportunity – for me the best job in British radio. I inherit a station in good health after the successful move to Salford and the wonderful London 2012 coverage.

“We have the potential to build on all of that and grow even stronger. I want to wake up every day knowing we are delivering live radio that you don’t hear anywhere else in the UK. We will look to make a bigger impact with our news journalism and continue to bring people together for major events off and on air. I have a wonderfully committed and supportive team to help achieve all this with and am looking forward to getting started.”