Condolences have poured in after the passing of
BBC
Arts broadcaster and documentary filmmaker Alan Yentob, who passed away at the age of 78.
A statement from the presenter’s family, issued via the BBC, announced his passing on May 24.
During his extensive tenure with the broadcaster, Yentob conducted interviews with notable figures like David Bowie, Charles Saatchi, Maya Angelou, and Grayson Perry for television shows including Omnibus, Arena, and Imagine.
His spouse, Philippa Walker, characterized him as ‘inquisitive, humorous, irritating, perpetually tardy, yet brimming with creativity in each cell of his being,’ further noting that he was ‘the epitome of kindness.’
She stated: ‘For Jacob, Bella, and me, each day with Alan carried the potential for something unforeseen. Our lives were thrilling, as was he.’
‘He possessed curiosity, humor, exasperation, tardiness, and creativity woven into each fiber of his being. Beyond all else, he stood out as the most gentle-hearted individual with an unwavering sense of morality. His presence has left behind a legacy of affection spanning miles.’
Those who knew him and were inspired by him have written tributes following the announcement, with TV presenter
Jeremy Clarkson
referring to him as ‘the person who called to terminate my career at Top Gear.’
As the BBC’s creative director back then, Yentob attributed
The 2015 altercation between Clarkson and a producer.
to ‘stress’ and ‘workload.’
“He was aware of what truly happened, and two days later, we had dinner. A remarkable individual who appreciated and comprehended television. My regards to Philippa,” Clarkson penned on X.
Krishnan Guru-Murthy, an anchor from Channel 4, also offered his respects, stating: ‘It’s terribly sad to hear about Alan Yentob.’
‘He was an exceptional, innovative individual who supported causes and individuals he deemed worthy, producing remarkable shows that will endure for many years.’
‘It comes as no shock that he enjoyed an extensive career at the pinnacle of his field and earned the trust of numerous people.’
‘I was greatly indebted to him—he got me onto BBC1, stood by me when I faced criticism for posing difficult questions, and even wrote to express his support.’
He would frequently send me messages about C4 News and used to mention that Unreported World was the show he hoped to recruit for his team.
On the social media platform BlueSky, the 1980s pop duo The Pet Shop Boys posted: “We are deeply saddened to learn of Alan Yentob’s passing.”
‘Alan was a legend in British TV, responsible for some of the BBC’s finest programmes including the documentary series, “Arena” and “Imagine”.
‘We had the fortunate experience of being featured in one of his “Imagine” documentaries that aired last year.’
‘He was a stimulating person to spend time with and a great supporter of all artistic endeavours.
‘We extend our deepest sympathies to his spouse, kids, friends, and coworkers. Neil and Chris x’
Dawn French and David Baddiel shared their tributes through X as well, with the star of “French and Saunders” penning: “We’ve lost an outstanding fellow. An advocate since day one…Alan Yentob.”
Baddiel, who was featured in Yentob’s 2011 television special ‘The Art of Stand-Up,’ referred to him as ‘the Monarch of Television.’
Sharing a picture of himself with the presenter, he wrote: “Very sad to hear about the death of Alan Yentob.
‘Here he is back stage following one of my performances, showing incredible support just like he always did. He was a wonderful person and a monarch of television.’
In 1968, he began his journey with the BBC as a trainee at the World Service. Over time, he climbed the ladder within the organization to eventually assume the role of the corporation’s head of music and arts in 1985.
While working at BBC2, Yentob was responsible for commissioning popular programs such as Absolutely Fabulous and Have I Got News For You, both of which were eventually transferred to BBC One.
He was also responsible for launching CBBC and CBeebies.
In 1993, he took over as the official controller of BBC1. During his tenure, he approved dramas such as “Middlemarch” and “Pride and Prejudice,” which propelled actor Colin Firth into stardom. He also oversaw shows like “Ballykissangel.” Additionally, he was responsible for canceling the struggling Spanish-based soap opera “Eldorado.”
He likewise hosted programs for the BBC, such as a show about the life of artist Leonardo da Vinci featuring Sir Mark Rylance, along with a recurring arts program called “Imagine,” starting from 2003.
In 2004, the broadcaster took up the role of creative director at the BBC, responsible for overseeing their creative strategy. Additionally, he held the position of chairman of the board of trustees for Kids Company, an organization established by Camila Batmanghelidjh, from 2003 until the charity folded in 2015.
In a 2024 episode of BBC Two, he interviewed author Sir Salman Rushdie regarding the severe consequences of the stabbing incident during his performance, which resulted in him losing sight in one eye.
In 2005, he received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from De Montfort University in Leicester. In 2024, he was officially appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the King for his contributions to the arts and media.
Yentob was wed to television producer Philippa Walker, and they had two children as a family.
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