MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC's, director of news, Helen Boaden, announced today that George Entwistle will be the corporation's new Head of Television Current Affairs. Entwistle, who is currently the executive editor, Topical Arts for BBC Two and BBC Four said, "Producing and commissioning the best possible television journalism is right at the core of the BBC's role in British public life. For the Head of Current Affairs, making sure that our journalism engages as wide an audience as possible, and meets their need for insight and inspiration, feels like the most important of challenges – one I feel very excited and privileged to have been given."

The BBC Television Current Affairs department, produces and commissions over 250 hours of output, and includes such programmes as BBC One's Real Story and Panorama, and BBC Two's This World.The department also produces a raft of specials, including recent highlights, Elusive Peace: Israel and the Arabs, The New Al-Qaeda and The Power of Nightmares. Boaden said, "George has an impeccable current affairs track record and a reputation for creating programmes of real flair and distinction."

Entwistle, a former award-winning Newsnight editor, who joined the BBC as a trainee in 1989 added, "My time in topical arts has been immensely stimulating, and creating a brand new programme, The Culture Show, which has involved an amazingly dedicated bunch of people, has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I've enjoyed every moment of it."