The BBC will call for an end to political appointments to its board as part of sweeping changes designed to protect its independence.
The corporation will also demand that its royal charter be made permanent in a bid to end the existential threat of having to negotiate with ministers over its future every ten years.
The proposals form part of its official response to the current charter renewal talks, which will be published on Thursday.
This arises from concerns within the BBC that political pressure from its board led to the resignations of director general Tim Davie and BBC News director Deborah Turness in November last year.
MPs and BBC staff have called for board member Robbie Gibb to be removed following allegations of a “coup” against the couple. Gibb, Theresa May’s former communications chief, was appointed during Boris Johnson’s time as prime minister.
The BBC has always said that Gibb’s voice was one of many on its board, and the corporation’s chairman, Samir Shah, has ridiculed claims of a right-wing coup.
However, it is about putting pressure on an end to political appointments and the perception of interference they create.
A source pointed to the results of the broadcaster’s biggest ever audience participation exercise, in which license payers saw the BBC’s independence as non-negotiable.
“When it comes to independence, perceptions matter as much as reality, and the audience has spoken,” a BBC source said. “This charter must find ways to reaffirm the BBC’s editorial, creative and operational independence, so that the BBC can remain a unifying, trusted and universally supported force.
“At the same time, we want to continue to modernize the BBC and find new ways to open up our thinking, planning and decision-making to our audiences, so they are more involved.”
The proposals are part of what are expected to be a set of significant changes proposed by the BBC, which faces hostility from political critics and commercial rivals over its funding model. Its current status expires at the end of 2027.
Experts have said non-payment of license fee is rising faster than expected. Major cuts have already been announced as its funding base erodes.
The BBC also has to come up with plans to cope with a rapidly changing media world, with the rise of wealthy streamers such as Netflix and the growing role played by YouTube and other digital platforms.
BBC executives continue to oppose any move towards an advertising-funded or subscription-based system, but there is recognition that radical ideas need to be considered to ensure public service broadcasting continues to have a future, and that the BBC’s universal funding model can be justified.
The idea of a permanent charter was raised last year by former BBC news chief James Harding. He said protecting the BBC was crucial with the prospect of Nigel Farage entering government at the next election.
He used a keynote speech last year to say it would be “recklessly complacent” to believe Reform would not pursue attempts to defund publicly supported media, as Donald Trump has done in the United States.
BBC experts say the current 10-year statute creates a “recurring threat to the BBC’s existence, uncertainty and potential for political interference.” They point to other institutions, such as the Bank of England, that have permanent charters.
It would mean that, while the BBC would still have to negotiate over what it does and how it is funded, its existence would no longer be questioned.
The BBC is forced to publish its proposals as it continues to search for a new leader to replace Davie. Many fancied names are no longer in the frame, with former Google executive Matt Brittin being the favorite.
