Ex-Labour politician Delyth Evans set to chair S4C

Delyth Evans is a former broadcaster and politician

A former Labour politician is to set to chair the Welsh language broadcaster S4C.

Delyth Evans was a broadcast journalist before she represented Mid and West Wales in the then-National Assembly for Wales from 2000 to 2003.

Former chair Rhodri Williams decided not to seek a second term in charge last year after he dismissed S4C's former chief executive Sian Doyle following a bullying scandal.

Evans will replace former Tory MP Guto Bebb, who has been an interim chair for the last 12 months.

Welsh Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies said the appointment "risks public trust in Welsh media".

Choosing the chair is the responsibility of the UK government.

Announcing Evans as her preferred candidate for the job, UK government Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Delyth began her career as a broadcast journalist, and her vision for S4C's future reflects a deep understanding of the Welsh cultural and media landscape, as well as an enduring commitment to public service."

Before politics Delyth Evans was a journalist at ITV-broadcaster HTV Wales, working on current affairs programme Y Byd ar Bedwar for S4C.

She later worked as a reporter for the World at One and PM for BBC Radio 4.

After her stint in the Assembly she was chief executive of Smart Works, a women's employment charity, and is currently a board member at Sport Wales, and a trustee of the Urdd.

Evans will appear before the Welsh Affairs Select Committee for a pre-appointment hearing on 23 April.

Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Conservative Senedd member for South Wales Central, said "appointing a former Labour politician to chair S4C will rightly raise eyebrows, especially following BBC Wales' decision to appoint the former chief executive of Plaid Cymru as its director".

He added: "The public expects impartiality from Welsh media, not political recycling."

A UK government spokesperson said: "The process to appoint the new Chair of S4C was run in accordance with the Broadcasting Act 1990 and the governance code on public appointments."

Political activity, the BBC was told, was not a bar to employment, and must be declared according to that code.