Mystery surrounds an announcement by Cardiff University that it has “delayed” the appointment of the actor and TV presenter Griff Rhys Jones as chancellor.
Cardiff had been set to announce his appointment yesterday afternoon – and had even sent round pictures of Mr Rhys Jones in the chancellor’s robes - but with around half an hour to go it said that “following discussion” the university’s court had “referred the matter back to the university council for further consideration”.
The university’s previous press release announcing Mr Rhys Jones’ appointment said that he had been “elected” as chancellor and did not say that the decision was subject to any further approval.
A spokesman for Cardiff told Times Higher Education that the delay was a “procedural matter” and that “in due course” the university would “be able to make a further announcement”.
Asked whether there was a prospect of Mr Rhys Jones not actually becoming chancellor, he said that there was “going to be further discussion”.
He did not elaborate on why the court had referred the decision back to the council.
