BBC man is surprise choice as Cameron’s new director of communications

Craig Oliver, 41, currently controller of BBC Global News, replaces Andy Coulson, who resigned earlier this month amid the continuing row over phone-hacking when he was editor of the News of the World.

Mr Cameron said: “Craig has formidable experience as a broadcast journalist. He will do an excellent job in explaining and communicating the Government’s programme.”

Mr Oliver said: “I’m delighted to be joining David Cameron and his team at such an exciting and challenging time.

“It’s difficult to leave the BBC after a fascinating few years – but this is an opportunity I can’t turn down.”

Mr Oliver failed to feature in frenzied speculation over who would get the job but was approached by Mr Coulson late last week, meeting Mr Cameron over the weekend.

He is said to have had no previous involvement in politics.

Mr Cameron’s spokeswoman, Gabby Bertin, had been among the favourites for the job, while ITV political editor Tom Bradby’s name had also been widely mentioned.

The coalition will hope that, as the product of a Scottish comprehensive, Mr Oliver can offset criticism over the dominance of public school-educated people at the top level of government.

He studied at St Andrews University before entering the media, working for Channel 4 News and was responsible for overseeing ITV’s Lunchtime News, Evening News and News At Ten from 2002-6. He was also editor of ITV’s 2005 General Election programme.

After joining the BBC, he edited the News at Ten and News at Six, and was the corporation’s General Election editor in 2010.

Mr Oliver has three daughters with BBC newsreader wife Joanna Gosling.

BBC director of global news, Peter Horrocks praised Mr Oliver but added: “Given the crucial editorial independence of the BBC, Craig and I have agreed that he should end his duties at the BBC immediately.”