Ex-BBC chairman Marmaduke Hussey dies

LONDON, Dec 27 (Reuters) Former BBC chairman Marmaduke Hussey, who led the broadcaster through a period when it was attacked for a perceived left-wing bias, has died aged 83.

Hussey, who was chairman for 10 years from 1986, oversaw a rapid change in the way the corporation operated and ensured it was well positioned for the Internet and digital age, the BBC said in a tribute to its former chairman.

''He will be remembered for his great vision, his integrity and his forthrightness, but also for his great personal kindness,'' BBC Director-General Mark Thompson said in a statement today.

Hussey started his media career in 1949 with Associated Newspapers. He went on to become a director at Times Newspapers between 1982 and 1986 before joining the BBC.

Almost immediately Hussey had to deal with the political pressure from senior Conservative politicans, most notably Party Chairman Norman Tebbit, who said the corporation was anti-Tory.

In the midst of dealing with these charges of political bias Hussey lost his first director-general when Alasdiar Milne quit in 1987, forcing the board of governors to appoint a new chief exceutive -- Michael Checkland.

When Checkland left in 1992 Hussey and the other 11 governors were tested yet again when a row erupted in 1993 after it emerged their newly-appointed Director-General John Birt enjoyed freelance status to gain tax advantages.

The governors backed Birt who later became a BBC staffer, but not before questions had been asked in parliament about the competancy of Hussey and the others governors.

Shortly before his retirement Hussey was once again part of a controversial decision, albeit unknowingly. The interview given by Princess Diana to the BBC in 1995 -- in which she admitted she had been unfaithful and questioned Prince Charlesz suitability to be king -- had been kept secret from Hussey.

Senior BBC executives had feared he would tell the Queen who employed his wife Susan as a lady-in-waiting, and try to censor the programme.

REUTERS PB RK1818