And they're off...

Mark Thompson has finally confirmed he's stepping down as Director General of the BBC in Autumn this year. He expects to narrow down a handover date once a successor has been appointed.

I'm now predicting we'll know the successor before Wimbledon, in late June. That would give time for a little internal shuffling, if the chosen one is from inside - or some gardening leave, should they come from a rival broadcaster.  Perhaps now our bookmakers' will re-open their books.

Mark's email to staff is a little shorter than his speech to the Royal Television Society last week, which is a much more rounded view of the health of the BBC. Today's short version is like a missive from young Mr Grace...

It’s because of your efforts that the BBC I will be leaving is so much stronger than the BBC I inherited back in 2004. Trust and approval are at record highs, our services are in brilliant creative form and we’ve demonstrated beyond contradiction that the BBC can be just as much of a leader and innovator in the digital age as we once were in the analogue one. Now more than ever, to audiences at home and abroad the BBC is the best broadcaster in the world. It’s been a great privilege helping you to keep the BBC in that top spot over the past eight years.