According to a report in The Guardian, Dimbleby has been told informally that his name will go forward for the job after 79 applications were received. The applicants are vying to take over from Gavyn Davies, who resigned as chairman following the publication of the Hutton Report, which accused the BBC of having "defective" editorial practices.
It is not the first time that Dimbleby, whose father Sir Richard was also a broadcaster at the BBC, has applied for a senior role at the corporation, having put himself forward for the position of director-general in 1986.
Dimbleby joined the BBC as a news reporter in Bristol after leaving university and appeared in network programmes from 1962. He has presented programmes including 'Panorama', '24 Hours' and 'The Dimbleby Talk-In', as well as hosting special events such as the Trooping of the Colour and commentating on the funeral of Princess Diana. He is also famous for hosting coverage of general elections, dating back to 1979.
Other names that have been rumoured to be among the applicants include the former Tory MP Michael Portillo and Richard Lambert, former editor of the Financial Times. But the relatively low salary of £81,320 -- along with the possibility that the chairman's role will soon lose some of its responsibility -- is thought to have put off potential candidates working in senior business roles.
Civil servants are examining the applications before Dame Rennie Fritchie, commissioner for public appointments, looks at the shortlist, which is expected to be down to around a dozen people next week.
Others to consult on the appointment include former Labour cabinet minister Jack Cunningham, the former Metropolitan police commissioner Lord Condon and Lord Steel, former leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
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