John Whittingdale 'good choice' for culture secretary says outgoing BBC Trust vice-chair

John Whittingdale is "really well-informed" according to Diane Coyle (right)

John Whittingdale is "a good choice" as culture secretary whose appointment last week will not have an adverse impact on the BBC, the outgoing vice-chair of the BBC Trust has said.

Diane Coyle said Mr Whittingdale recognised the BBC "has great popularity" with Conservative voters.

Sajid Javid's successor, she went on, is "a pragmatic, sensible man".

Her remarks in The Guardian came after claims Mr Whittingdale's appointment posed a threat to the corporation.

Mr Whittingdale will lead the government's negotiations with the BBC over the renewal of its royal charter, which determines the level of the licence fee.

The former chair of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport select committee has previously called the TV licence "worse than a poll tax" and said it was "becoming harder and harder to justify".

Coyle led the BBC Trust between Patten's departure and Rona Fairhead's appointment

"In the Conservative party there are more people who are ideological about the BBC and would want to pare it back," said Coyle.

In her view, though, "the government and John Whittingdale are actually quite pragmatic and recognise among the people who vote for them that the BBC has great popularity.

"Whittingdale, despite the headlines, is actually a good choice," Coyle continued. "He's really well-informed... He knows people in the independent sector and around the country."

Coyle, a professor of economics at the University of Manchester, is stepping down from her role as vice-chair of the BBC Trust, a post she has held since 2011.

Last year she served as acting chair following Chris Patten's decision to stand down on health grounds.

Rona Fairhead was appointed as Lord Patten's full-time successor last August, while Sir Roger Carr is the trust's new vice-chairman.