Veteran broadcaster Stuart Cosgrove has insisted Scottish independence should not hamper Glasgow's bid to become the new home of Channel 4.

Cosgrove, who hopes to persuade channel bosses to establish its second headquarters in Scotland's largest city, said the "binary debate" over independence was "a bit dated" and should not affect Glasgow's pitch.

Speaking to the Sunday Times ahead of a meeting with executives in London, he said: "The competition is about the quality of the bid, not about solving constitutional riddles."

Channel 4, government-owned but funded chiefly by advertising, plans to create three new centres to diversify its output, with one to be a second national headquarters.

Other cities including Birmingham, Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester, Brighton, Bristol, Leeds and Bradford have also expressed an interest in the move, which could add £5bn to a local economy over 10 years.

Cosgrove, the channel’s former head of nations and regions, is to meet executives this week and said “a dream team” is putting together a “compelling and persuasive case”.

He added: “Glasgow is in tune with the values that are at the heart of Channel 4 - diversity, equality, innovation with a bit of irreverence thrown in. Tonally, it is just right for the channel.

"That, coupled with the desire by the broadcaster to maintain and increase its audience and advertising base in Scotland, makes for a fantastic fit."

Fears a second referendum could damage Glasgow's chances of luring Channel 4 emerged when Nicola Sturgeon appeared at the Edinburgh International Television Festival last year.

She was questioned over rumours about television executives being concerned about the economic consequences if Scotland should decide to leave the UK.

At the time, Sturgeon said she understood Channel 4’s reservations but insisted Glasgow, already home to the BBC and STV, "would be an ideal base".

The move would see about 300 posts relocated across the hubs, including Channel 4 News jobs, with 500 staff expected to remain at its London base.

Cosgrove added: "There is a lot going on here, BBC Scotland is here, STV has been here for generations. Sky is a big employer in Livingston with a major contact centre and other technical services in Scotland."