Lessons from history.

Still no sign of the ad for Controller Radio 4, but BBC historians are musing over past incumbents, looking for clues to the future.  There we find that Monica Sims, Controller from 1978 to 1983, came from the job of Head of Children's Programmes, BBC TV.

And then we note that one of many strong women catching Lord Hall's eye is Alice Webb. A chartered civil engineer with deep experience of waste water management, Alice is currently Director of Children's, based in MediaCityUK, Salford. She and Lord Hall hosted The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Broadcasting House in November, looking at ways to combat cyber-bullying.

As Director of Children's, Alice reports to James Purnell, who may or may not be leading on the Radio 4 recruitment. 

Of course, Alice is also Director of North for the BBC, with a family based there. Alice is on £210k; Gwyneth Williams, the departing Controller, is on £192k. So maybe it needs a bigger job to tempt Ms Webb south. Watch this space.