TV executive Sir Peter Bazalgette has been appointed chairman of the Arts Council England.
Bazalgette’s production company Endemol is behind TV shows such as Big Brother, Deal Or No Deal, Fame Academy and others.
He will take up the Arts Council role on January 31 succeeding Dame Liz Forgan after four years.
Bazalgette is also chair of English National Opera, president of the Royal Television Society and a non-executive director on the board of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Sir Peter will serve a four-year term in his new position, working up to two days per week, earning a salary of £40,000 per annum, according to the BBC.
"Sustaining our vigorous arts and cultural sector is admittedly a challenge but one I greatly look forward to," said Bazalgette.
Bazalgette’s appointment was one of the final decisions made by Jeremy Hunt who was replaced as Culture Secretary by Maria Miller in the government’s Cabinet reshuffle yesterday.
Arts Council England chief executive Alan Davey added: "This is an excellent appointment.
"Peter is a great philanthropic contributor to the arts; an enthusiast who has done amazing work with English National Opera and has helped the Arts Council over the years to develop our digital thinking. We look forward to working with him."
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