Former Channel 4 News editor Jim Gray has been appointed by the BBC to lead its current affairs output.

Gray will join the corporation later this summer as head of TV current affairs and deputy to the head of news programmes, where he has been tasked with bringing a “sharper focus” on producing news-led programming.

His appointment, predicted by Broadcast last month, follows a restructure of the current affairs department, which separated commissioning and production responsibilities. Clive Edwards, previously executive editor and comissioning editor of BBC TV current affair, was handed beefed-up commissioning duties as part of the changes.

Gray stepped down from his role as C4 News editor in April 2012, and since then has been repeatedly linked to the BBC. Prior to joining C4, he worked at the BBC for 17 years.

Ceri Thomas, head of news programmes for the BBC, said: “He did an outstanding job as editor of C4 News and I’m sure he will show the same sort of commitment and drive in highlighting the power of our analysis and investigative journalism right across the department.”

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