BBC Director-General Mark Thompson is planning to quit his post shortly after the London 2012 Olympics. After eight tough years at the top, the 54 year-old is reported to be ready to go.

Inevitably, speculation has started about his successor at the BBC, with early money on the corporation getting its first ever female DG.

Names in the frame include BBC COO Caroline Thomson and head of news Helen Boaden. Others in the frame are BBC Vision boss George Entwistle and ITV director of TV  Peter Fincham, though his chances will be dented by the Crowngate row which saw him quit the BBC in 2007.