Alan Yentob dead: Legendary BBC broadcaster who launched CBBC dies aged 78 as tributes pour in
BBC legacy Alan Yentob has passed away, his family announced.
The 78-year-old retired broadcaster held several senior roles at the Beeb since joining as a trainee in 1968.
He was given a CBE in the 2024 birthday honours list, for services to the arts and media.
Alan launched CBBC and CBeebies, and also commissioned shows such as Absolutely Fabulous, Have I Got News for You and the classic adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
He began his career as a documentary maker but went on to make his way through a myriad of roles, including running both BBC One and BBC Two.
The TV icon passed away yesterday, and tributes have been led by his wife and a length statement from the corporation's director-general Tim Davie.
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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.”
TV critic Scott Bryan posted on X: "Alan Yentob was a one of a kind documentary maker, an effortless broadcaster and had such an inquisitive mind.
"Knew how to make television interesting and thought provoking."
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Comedian David Baddiel paid tribute, describing Alan as a "king of TV".
Baddiel, who featured in Yentob's series The Art Of Stand-Up, called the late broadcaster a "lovely man".
In a post on X, Baddiel shared a picture and wrote: "Very sad to hear about the death of Alan Yentob.
"Here he is backstage after one of my shows, being incredibly supportive, as he always was. A lovely man, and a king of TV."
John Simpson, the presenter of Unspun World, said: "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."
Dawn French posted a sweet picture of her and Alan on X, captioned: "We’ve lost a tip top chap. Our advocate from the start."
BBC Director-General Tim Davie called Alan a "towering figure" in a tribute.
“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.
“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.
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“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.”
Who was Alan Yentob?
Alan was born in Stepney, east London, in 1947 and was the son of Jewish immigrants from Iraq.
His family moved to Manchester before returning to London again and he attended private school.
He was sent to board at a cathedral school in Cambridgeshire as a young boy before studying law at the University of Leeds.
Alan joined the BBC trainee scheme as the only non-Oxbridge recruit of his year group in 1968.
There he worked his way through the ranks to become the corporation's head of music and arts in 1985.
In 1987 he was promoted to controller of BBC2 where he revitalised the channel by commissioning hugely successful. Then in 1993 he became the official controller of BBC1.
His drama commissions ranged from Middlemarch and Pride And Prejudice - which made actor Colin Firth a heartthrob - to Ballykissangel, while wielding an axe to the failing Spain-set soap Eldorado.
He also presented shows for the BBC, including a series on the life of artist Leonardo da Vinci, starring Sir Mark Rylance, and a regular arts series, Imagine, from 2003.
Alan was appointed creative director, to oversee the BBC's creative strategy, in 2004 and he also served as chairman of the board of trustees for Kids Company, from 2003 until the collapse of the charity in 2015.
However he 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 charity folded on August 5 2015 just six days after receiving a £3 million grant in a final bid to keep it afloat.
In December that year, Alan stepped down from his job at the BBC, saying the speculation over his conduct had been "proving a serious distraction".
In spite of the Kids Company controversy, he continued to present programmes for the BBC, interviewing figures including Sir Stephen Fry and Bob Geldof.
Alan was married to TV producer Philippa Walker and the couple had two children together.
