The senior civil servant fought off competition from 143 others. As part of the selection process he sat a written exam devised by young people and was questioned by them on two separate occasions.
Insiders said the young people were looking for somebody who was "out of the box" and Aynsley-Green earned plaudits
because "he bubbled with passion and enthusiasm". He turned up to one of the interviews armed with examples of leaflets produced by young people.
"He was pulling them out of his pockets. It was an all singing, all dancing show and it went down really well," said one insider.
Children's charities welcomed the appointment of Aynsley-Green but warned that the commissioner's role in England was weaker than its counterparts elsewhere in the UK because it does not promote children's rights.
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