DG 2020 - 10

Hoorah ! Just what a DG race needs - a mystery candidate. The Guardian is confident that the Clementi shortlist is down to four.

Tim Davie probably represents the business/networking option. He has the experience of being an acting DG. On the business front, it's always been hard to argue that BBC Studios, nee Enterprises and previously aka Worldwide actually makes the money it should. On the networking front, Tim has always put in the hours - RTS, Bafta, Comic Relief, The Tate, Creative Industries - picking up a CBE on the way.

Charlotte Moore has been in the business of programme-making and managing programme makers for nearly twenty years. She's probably best positioned as the 'content' candidate - it's the programmes you make that matter more to the BBC's survival; funding will flow from public approval. She's had a good run holding BBC1's position against the streamers (ITV have found it much harder). She is a woman person.

Will Lewis would be a shake-up candidate; but would he instinctively fight to maintain the protected funding the current BBC demands ?  The former Telegraph editor will have to explain why he's left a top job as the CEO of Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal. His period of 'success' at the Telegraph intrigued BBC News, who invited him to explain his approach at various leadership groups. That 'success' was hardly sticky. 

The mystery candidate: I'll take a punt on Jane Turton of All3Media. Quiet, effective, business-savvy, and patient with politicians.

(Did anyone ever tell you that the mystery candidate in the George Entwistle/Caroline Thomson 2012 DG Stakes was David Levin, at the time running UBM ?)