Gallop takes over from Sloane as BBC's F1 supremo

Ben Gallop, the head of BBC Sport's Interactive operation, is to succeed Niall Sloane as the corporation's F1 supremo.

Sloane told staff on Thursday that he was leaving after 25 years at the BBC. The Irishman had grown disillusioned after being encouraged by Peter Salmon to apply for the head of sport job, only to be eliminated at the first hurdle.

Sloane's junior colleague "icewoman" Barbara Slater went on to land the coveted position.

Gallop has overseen a dramatic increase in the popularity of the BBC Sport website, but has no previous experience of working in television...