New BBC1 controller Peter Fincham will take over the running of the channel a month earlier than expected.
New BBC1 controller Peter Fincham will take over the running of the channel a month earlier than expected.

The former Talkback Thames chief executive, who was announced as controller three weeks ago, was not expected to start the job until June.

But BBC director of television Jana Bennett has confirmed that he will take up the post on Monday, 9 May.

Fincham has effectively swapped jobs with outgoing controller Lorraine Heggessey, who will leave to become Talkback's chief exec on Friday, 15 April after a hand-over meeting.

Bennett has said she will act as BBC1's controller in the interim, dealing with urgent decisions.