Bryson splits his time between US and UK

One of Bryson's best-selling books, Notes from a Small Island, took a wry look at the eccentrities of Britain.

He has been a UK resident, on and off, for 20 years and classes himself as an Anglophile.

Bryson follows in the footsteps of US TV presenter Loyd Grossman, the first foreigner on the body's board.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I am taking this very seriously and I am honoured to be appointed. It's not every day that an immigrant more or less fresh off the boat gets invited to help run a national institution."

He said he wanted to use his position to encourage respect for England's historic buildings, but also imagination and sensitivity in future architecture.

Heritage stockpile

He welcomed the innovation in architecture happening now, calling the 1960s and 70s a "bizarre time architecturally", where buildings were dull and uninspiring.

"There is a tradition at English Heritage of having an outsider, a foreign resident, as part of the commission, and I think that's a very good thing," he said.

"It does introduce a level of diversity and give a different perspective. There is nothing like coming from a country that has a very small stockpile of heritage to make you appreciate a place that has a great stockpile."

Notes From a Small Island was recently voted as the book that best represented Britain in a poll conducted for World Book Day, despite it not always being particularly complimentary about the people and places he visited.