Latest news with #PhilippaWalker
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former BBC executive Alan Yentob dies aged 78
Alan Yentob has died aged 78. The former TV presenter - who also served as the controller of BBC One and Two - passed away on Saturday (24.05.25). Philippa Walker, his wife, said in a statement: "Every day with Alan held the promise of something unexpected. Our life was exciting, he was exciting. "He was curious, funny, annoying, late, and creative in every cell of his body. But more than that, he was the kindest of men and a profoundly moral man. He leaves in his wake a trail of love a mile wide." Yentob interviewed an array of well-known public figures - including the likes of David Bowie, Charles Saatchi and Maya Angelou - during his broadcasting career for shows such as 'Imagine' and 'Omnibus'. And Tim Davie, the director-general of the BBC, has paid a glowing tribute to Yentob, describing him as a "creative force and cultural visionary". He added: "To work with Alan was to be inspired and encouraged to think bigger. He had a rare gift for identifying talent and lifting others up - a mentor and champion to so many across the worlds of television, film and theatre. "Above all, Alan was a true original. His passion wasn't performative - it was personal. He believed in the power of culture to enrich, challenge and connect us." Yentob became controller of BBC Two in 1988, and he was responsible for commissioning hit TV shows such as 'Absolutely Fabulous' and 'Have I Got News for You'. Yentob served as the controller of BBC One between 1993 and 1997, and then became the corporation's creative director in 2004. Amol Rajan, the 'Today' host, has heaped praise on Yentob, describing the broadcaster as a "unique and kind man". The 41-year-old presenter - who also hosts 'University Challenge' - said: "Modern art never had a more loyal ally. His shows were always brilliant, often masterpieces, sometimes seminal. So much of Britain's best TV over five decades came via his desk. That was public Alan. In private, he was magnetic, zealous, and very funny, with a mesmerising voice and mischievous chuckle." Yentob was awarded a CBE for services to the arts and media in 2024.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alan Yentob Dead: Arts Figures Pay Tribute To Influential BBC Arts Producer Following Death Aged 78
Tributes from across the UK's arts and cultural landscape have been paid to long-serving BBC producer Alan Yentob, following his death aged 78. Yentob's wife Philippa Walker paid tribute to her husband, calling him 'curious, funny, annoying, late and creative in every cell of his body' and added that he was 'the kindest of men.' More from Deadline Ed Sheeran Makes Surprise Appearance At BBC Music Festival In Liverpool Ex-Prime Video Exec To Rainbow; AI Film 'Echo Hunter'; MGM Alternative Makes BBC Show; HiddenLight Producer Joins Sky News Unit - Global Briefs 'Doctor Who' Ratings Dive, Supercharging Uncertainty About Future Of Sci-Fi Series And the BBC has reported director-general Tim Davie's tribute. Davie remembered Yentob as 'a cultural force' and 'creative visionary.' Davie said: 'To work with Alan was to be inspired and encouraged to think bigger. He had a rare gift for identifying talent and lifting others up – a mentor and champion to so many across the worlds of television, film and theatre. 'Above all, Alan was a true original. His passion wasn't performative – it was personal. He believed in the power of culture to enrich, challenge and connect us.' Jeremy Clarkson, who Yentob had to sack from Top Gear following the presenter's altercation with a producer on the set of the hit motoring show, remembered his colleague, saying on X: 'Alan Yentob is the guy who called to end my career at Top Gear. He knew what had really gone on though and two days later, we had dinner. Great man. Loved and understood television. My love to Philippa.' Veteran news correspondent John Simpson wrote on the same platform: 'Very sad to hear that my good friend Alan Yentob has died. He was such good company, and a wonderful interviewer and documentary-maker. I shall miss him greatly.' Piers Morgan remembered him, writing: 'RIP Alan Yentob, a giant of British television, a superb interviewer, and a great character – always brimming with charm, intelligence and mischief.' Yentob was a significant figure in British culture, both on screen – where he presented dozens of programmes profiling subjects from David Bowie to Beyonce, Orson Welles to Mel Brooks – and off, where his roles included channel commissioner for BBC One and BBC Two, as well as the BBC's creative director and head of music and arts. His memorable 1975 Omnibus feature saw him accompanying David Bowie on a tour to the US, The programme called 'Cracked Actor', saw Bowie, then under the influence of drugs, give a revealing interview in the back of a limousine where he talked about his creativity but also the mental cost of his high profile. It was heralded as a new frontier in profile-making. Yentob's prodigious career saw him become controller of BBC Two in 1988, making him one of the youngest channel controllers in the corporation's history. He presided over a golden era for arts coverage across the organisation. He went on to become controller of the flagship TV channel BBC One from 1993 to 1997, before he worked as television's director of programmes. He subsequently worked as the corporation's creative director for more than a decade. He was awarded a CBE in 2024 for services to the arts and media. Best of Deadline 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg Everything We Know About Amazon's 'Verity' Movie So Far Everything We Know About 'The Testaments,' Sequel Series To 'The Handmaid's Tale' So Far
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Alan Yentob, one of British culture's ‘defining figures', dies aged 78
Alan Yentob, the broadcaster, programme-maker and longtime BBC executive, has died aged 78. The news was shared by Yentob's family, who said he died on Saturday. 'For Jacob, Bella and I every day with Alan held the promise of something unexpected,' his wife Philippa Walker said. 'Our life was exciting, he was exciting. 'He was curious, funny, annoying, late and creative in every cell of his body. But more than that, he was the kindest of men and a profoundly moral man. He leaves in his wake a trail of love a mile wide.' In a lengthy statement, BBC director-general Tim Davie said: ' Alan Yentob was a towering figure in British broadcasting and the arts. A creative force and a cultural visionary, he shaped decades of programming at the BBC and beyond, with a passion for storytelling and public service that leave a lasting legacy. 'For nearly 60 years Alan championed originality, risk-taking and artistic ambition. From Arena to Imagine, from commissioning groundbreaking drama to giving emerging voices a platform, his influence is woven into the fabric of British cultural life.' Davie said that Yentob believed 'profoundly in the BBC's role as a home for creativity, curiosity and the arts, accessible to all'. He described the broadcaster as an 'unforgettable presence' who was 'engaging, witty and endlessly curious, he brought energy and warmth to every conversation. He was generous with his time, fierce in his convictions, and full of joy in the work of others'. Yentob was born in London in 1947 to a family who left Iraq for Manchester. He grew up in Didsbury until he was 12. The family then moved back to London and Yentob went on to study law at the University of Leeds, where he became heavily involved in drama. He joined the BBC in 1968 as a general trainee. At the time, he was the only non-Oxbridge graduate and took his first job with the corporation's World Service. In 1975, he secured unprecedented access to David Bowie for Cracked Actor, by the BBC's Omnibus strand, which captured the British artist in the throes of a cocaine-induced identity crisis in Los Angeles. 'Bowie had come to America with an extraordinary cast of characters, all of whom he had determined to kill off by the end of the Diamond Dogs tour,' Yentob said while reflecting on the programme in 2013. 'I'd caught him at what was an intensely creative time, but it was also physically and emotionally gruelling. Our encounters tended to take place in hotel rooms in the early hours of the morning or in snatched conversations in the back of limousines. He was fragile and exhausted but also prepared to open up and talk in a way he had never really done before.' The filmmaker Nicolas Roeg later said it was Cracked Actor that prompted him to cast Bowie in his 1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth, as he was struck by the musician's other-worldly quality: 'Almost from that moment, I couldn't believe it. I felt this was the man,' he said. Yentob, after working as a producer and director, was appointed head of music and arts in 1985, a position he maintained until being appointed controller of BBC Two in 1988. He was controller of BBC One between 1993 and 1997 and announced as the BBC's creative director in 2004. Among the shows Yentob commissioned were the BBC hits Absolutely Fabulous, which was created, written by and starring Jennifer Saunders, and The Late Show. He launched the children's strands CBBC and CBeebies, and appeared onscreen interviewing figures including Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Bob Geldof and Kazuo Ishiguro. He also commissioned the successful comedy panel show Have I Got News for You, and the BBC's 1995 series Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, and widely considered one of the best adaptations of Jane Austen's 1813 novel. Over the years, he became friends with figures including Orson Welles, who was the subject of a programme Yentob made in 1982, and Mel Brooks. Perhaps one of the friendships that caused the most intrigue was one with rapper and music mogul Jay-Z, who hosted Yentob at a Hollywood Bowl show and then at Glastonbury, where Yentob was seen standing on the side of the Pyramid Stage during his history-making 2008 headline performance. 'When I walked in to see Jay-Z for the first time, I was given champagne from Jay Z's own brand, which he delivered himself and cost no less than 800 bucks a bottle,' Yentob recalled to The Independent in an interview that year. 'He saw me and handed me my own bottle, he was already in the midst of going on stage at the Hollywood bowl. As he walked off I could see Diana Ross arriving to give him a hug and Jerry Seinfeld was walking down the corridor. It's the champagne and the bling. I remember thinking I feel rather stupid standing in the middle of this lot – but that's showbusiness.' Yentob also defended himself from accusations that his programming strand, Imagine, was a vehicle to puff up his own acquaintances, dubbed 'Al's Pals' by critics. 'People say they're all puffs, they're not puffs,' he argued. 'If something amazes me or enthuses me I want to share it.' In 2015, he stepped down as BBC creative director, saying at the time that his role at the charity Kids Company was a 'serious distraction'. Yentob, who was chairman of trustees at the charity, faced scrutiny over his role as well as claims he tried to influence coverage at the corporation of its troubles. He always insisted there was no conflict of interest in his decision to call Newsnight about its investigation into Kids Company and had not 'abused my position at the BBC'. He was presented with a CBE in the 2024 birthday honours list for services to the arts and media. 'To work with Alan was to be inspired and encouraged to think bigger,' Davie said. 'He had a rare gift for identifying talent and lifting others up – a mentor and champion to so many across the worlds of television, film and theatre. 'Above all, Alan was a true original. His passion wasn't performative – it was personal. He believed in the power of culture to enrich, challenge and connect us. We have lost one of the great creative spirits of our time. But his programmes, his voice, and the generations he inspired, will live on. 'Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Alan will be hugely missed as a friend, a colleague, and one of the defining figures in the story of British culture.' Amol Rajan, the BBC Radio 4 presenter and former Independent editor, paid tribute to Yentob with a video on Instagram and a caption that described him as 'such a unique and kind man: an improbable impresario from unlikely origins who became a towering figure in the culture of post-war Britain'. He continued: 'Modern Art never had a more loyal ally. His shows were always brilliant, often masterpieces, sometimes seminal. So much of Britain's best TV over 5 decades came via his desk. That was public Alan. In private, he was magnetic, zealous, and very funny, with a mesmerising voice and mischievous chuckle. 'He oozed fortitude until the very last. He had his foibles and failures, but Alan Yentob was one of the most generous, influential, singular, passionate, supportive, creative and loved men of his generation. I commend his spirit to the living.'
BreakingNews.ie
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Broadcaster and former BBC executive Alan Yentob dies aged 78
Former BBC executive and TV presenter Alan Yentob has died at the age of 78, his family has announced. Yentob joined the BBC as a trainee in 1968 and held positions as controller of BBC One and BBC Two, director of television, head of music and arts, as well as the director of BBC drama, entertainment and children's. Advertisement A statement from his family, released by the BBC, said Yentob died on Saturday, May 24th. Alan Yentob being made a CBE by the King (Jordan Pettitt/PA) His wife Philippa Walker said: 'For Jacob, Bella and I every day with Alan held the promise of something unexpected. Our life was exciting, he was exciting. 'He was curious, funny, annoying, late and creative in every cell of his body. But more than that, he was the kindest of men and a profoundly moral man. He leaves in his wake a trail of love a mile wide.' During his tenure at BBC2, he was credited with the revitalisation of the channel with commissions like Absolutely Fabulous, starring Jennifer Saunders and Dame Joanna Lumley, arts series The Late Show and Have I Got News For You, which later moved to BBC One. Advertisement He also launched CBBC and CBeebies. His drama commissions included Middlemarch and Pride And Prejudice – which cemented actor Colin Firth's status as a heartthrob – as well as Ballykissangel, and he also took the decision to cancel Spanish-set soap Eldorado in 1993. He also previously edited and presented the arts documentary series Imagine from 2003. Alan Yentob with an Emmy for the BBC show The Kumars At No42 (Rich Lee/PA) In 2015 he stepped down as BBC creative director, saying at the time that his role at the charity Kids Company was a 'serious distraction'. Advertisement Yentob, who was chairman of trustees at the charity, faced scrutiny over his role as well as claims he tried to influence coverage at the corporation of its troubles. He always insisted there was no conflict of interest in his decision to call Newsnight about its investigation into Kids Company and had not 'abused my position at the BBC'. The BBC's director-general Tim Davie said: 'Alan Yentob was a towering figure in British broadcasting and the arts. A creative force and a cultural visionary, he shaped decades of programming at the BBC and beyond, with a passion for storytelling and public service that leave a lasting legacy. 'For nearly 60 years Alan championed originality, risk-taking and artistic ambition. From Arena to Imagine, from commissioning groundbreaking drama to giving emerging voices a platform, his influence is woven into the fabric of British cultural life. Advertisement 'He believed profoundly in the BBC's role as a home for creativity, curiosity and the arts – accessible to all. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amol Rajan (@amolrajan) 'But Alan was more than a pioneering creative – he was an unforgettable presence. Engaging, witty and endlessly curious, he brought energy and warmth to every conversation. He was generous with his time, fierce in his convictions, and full of joy in the work of others. 'To work with Alan was to be inspired and encouraged to think bigger. He had a rare gift for identifying talent and lifting others up – a mentor and champion to so many across the worlds of television, film and theatre. 'Above all, Alan was a true original. His passion wasn't performative – it was personal. He believed in the power of culture to enrich, challenge and connect us. Advertisement 'We have lost one of the great creative spirits of our time. But his programmes, his voice, and the generations he inspired, will live on. 'Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Alan will be hugely missed as a friend, a colleague, and one of the defining figures in the story of British culture.' Yentob was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from De Montfort University, Leicester in 2005. In 2024 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the King for services to the arts and media. BBC Radio 4 presenter, Amol Rajan, paid tribute to Yentob with a video on Instagram and a caption that described him as 'such a unique and kind man: an improbable impresario from unlikely origins who became a towering figure in the culture of post-war Britain. Alan Yentob held positions as controller of BBC One and BBC Two (Yui Mok/PA) 'Modern Art never had a more loyal ally. His shows were always brilliant, often masterpieces, sometimes seminal. So much of Britain's best TV over 5 decades came via his desk. That was public Alan. In private, he was magnetic, zealous, and very funny, with a mesmerising voice and mischievous chuckle. 'He oozed fortitude until the very last. 'He had his foibles and failures, but Alan Yentob was one of the most generous, influential, singular, passionate, supportive, creative and loved men of his generation. 'I commend his spirit to the living.' John Simpson, presenter of the BBC News programme Unspun World, said on X: 'Very sad to hear that my good friend Alan Yentob has died. He was such good company, and a wonderful interviewer and documentary maker. I shall miss him greatly.' ITV News political editor, Robert Peston, also paid tribute to the late broadcaster with a post on X which read: 'I am sad to learn of the death of Alan Yentob. To have been so influential for so long at the BBC, through its many travails and changes of personnel, was quite remarkable, with no modern precedent. Sincere condolences to his family.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former BBC executive and presenter Alan Yentob dies
Alan Yentob, the former BBC presenter and executive, has died aged 78. A statement from his family, shared by the BBC, said Yentob died on Saturday. His wife Philippa Walker said: "For Jacob, Bella and I, every day with Alan held the promise of something unexpected. Our life was exciting, he was exciting. "He was curious, funny, annoying, late, and creative in every cell of his body. But more than that, he was the kindest of men and a profoundly moral man. He leaves in his wake a trail of love a mile wide." Read more on Sky News: Yentob joined the BBC as a trainee in 1968 and held a number of positions - including controller of BBC One and BBC Two, director of television, and head of music and art. He was also the director of BBC drama, entertainment, and children's TV. Yentob launched CBBC and CBeebies, and his drama commissions included Pride And Prejudice and Middlemarch. The TV executive was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the King in 2024 for services to the arts and media. In a tribute, the BBC's director-general Tim Davie said: "Alan Yentob was a towering figure in British broadcasting and the arts. A creative force and a cultural visionary, he shaped decades of programming at the BBC and beyond, with a passion for storytelling and public service that leave a lasting legacy. "Above all, Alan was a true original. His passion wasn't performative - it was personal. He believed in the power of culture to enrich, challenge and connect us." BBC Radio 4 presenter Amol Rajan described him on Instagram as "such a unique and kind man: an improbable impresario from unlikely origins who became a towering figure in the culture of post-war Britain. "I commend his spirit to the living."
