Forgan to lead National Youth Orchestra

Dame Liz Forgan is to take over as the head of the National Youth Orchestra (NYO), after she leaves the Arts Council following Jeremy Hunt's shock move to force her out.

The Culture Secretary announced in March that she would not be reappointed as the council's after her four-year term expired in January. Some speculated the decision to remove the openly left-wing chair had been politically motivated, although a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport denied it.

Dame Liz, who also chairs the Scott Trust, which owns The Guardian, is to succeed the newspaper's editor Alan Rusbridger as chair of the NYO.