Former BBC chairman Marmaduke Hussey has died at the age of 83. He chaired the British public broadcaster for ten years between 1986-1996.

Hussey was a newspaper journalist who worked his way up to become managing director of Times Newspapers from 1971-80. He lost a leg during his World War 2 military service.

He ran the BBC during Margaret Thatcher’s government and was the only BBC Chairman to have served two full terms. During his time as Chairman the BBC faced criticism from the Thatcher government, which took a strong stance against terrorism in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, criticising the way broadcasters reported both acts of terrorism and the war against terrorism.

The BBC responded with a point-by-point rebuttal of the Tebbit critique and a letter from Marmaduke Hussey saying the Corporation would not be intimidated.