It is four times the number who applied for the position last time it became vacant.
Names 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 role will soon lose some of its responsibility -- is thought to have put off potential candidates working in senior business roles.
One of the first jobs of the new chairman will be to appoint the BBC director-general.
Acting director-general Mark Byford is reportedly the frontrunner to take over from Dyke, who had not expected his resignation to be accepted by the BBC board of governors. Dyke quit in January after the publication of Lord Hutton's investigation into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly, which was highly critical of the corporation, describing its editorial system as "deficient".
Civil servants will first look at all of the applications before Dame Rennie Fritchie, commissioner for public appointments, looks at the shortlist. 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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