Interviews for the new BBC Trust Chairman's post have started with former Hong Kong Governor and ex Northern Ireland Office Minister, Lord Patten (pictured) as the first candidate to face the selection panel.

It is understood that the former Tory party boss was interviewed for the £110,000 "three to four days a week" job on Monday in London.

Remaining interviews to find a replacement for Sir Michael Lyons, who is leaving in April, were not expected to begin until the end of this week.

As Hong Kong's last governor, now Oxford University chancellor, Patten was said by one insider to be "very keen" about the job that he "really wants".

Chris Patten is also the man behind revolutionary reform for the RUC in Northern Ireland, which is ongoing as a part of the historic Good Friday Agreement.

Interviews with the other candidates are due to take place within the next few days.

Others on the shortlist are believed to include: CBI Director and former Financial Times Editor Richard Lambert; Richard Hooper; former regulator and the man who recently reviewed postal services for the Government; existing BBC trustee and Newnham College, Cambridge Principal Patricia Hodgson; and her fellow existing trustee and investment banker Anthony Fry.

Technically the appointment is made by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister as the BBC Trust is the governing body of the BBC, responsible for representing the interests of licence fee payers.

It applies the principle of public value in holding to account the Executive Board, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the BBC. The Trust also ensures that the BBC's activities are not anti-competitive and are "consistent with a vibrant and dynamic broadcasting market".

(BMcC/GK)