The influential BBC broadcaster Alan Yentob, who profiled numerous main artists over a number of many years, has died on the age of 78.
He helmed quite a few tv arts exhibits, together with Think about, Omnibus and Area, and have become identified for his in-depth interviews with figures like David Bowie, Jay-Z, Leonard Cohen, Grayson Perry, Salman Rushdie and Orson Welles.
Yentob was additionally a high-ranking govt on the BBC, together with spells controlling BBC One and Two, throughout which era he additionally oversaw the commissioning of many longstanding cultural programmes, notably Later…With Jools Holland in 1992.
The information was confirmed in an announcement from his household, who stated that he handed away on Saturday (Could 24). His spouse Philippa Walker stated: “For Jacob, Bella and I each say with Alan had the promise of one thing sudden. Our life was thrilling, he was thrilling.”
“He was curious, humorous, annoying, late and inventive in each cell of his physique. However greater than that, he was the kindest of males and a profoundly ethical man. He leaves in his wake a path of affection a mile huge.”
Born in London in 1947 into an Iraqi Jewish household, he joined the BBC World Service in 1968 as a manufacturing assistant and landed his first main function because the editor of Area in 1975.
Launched that 12 months, his documentary movie Cracked Actor profiled David Bowie throughout his Diamond Canines tour within the US, a interval throughout which he was fighting cocaine habit. Showcasing Bowie’s fragile psychological state and inventive inspirations, it grew to become one of many defining depictions of Bowie’s profession.
Yentob routinely focused musicians as topics for his documentaries and he oversaw the launch of Later…With Jools Holland whereas controlling BBC Two, a present that’s at the moment in its 66th season on the air. Throughout his time in control of BBC One, he commissioned acclaimed exhibits resembling Our Associates In The North and Completely Fabulous, and he additionally launched CBBC and CBeebies.
See some reactions to Yentob’s passing beneath.
“To work with Alan was to be impressed and inspired to assume greater”
Director-Normal Tim Davie pays tribute to Alan Yentob, “one of many defining figures within the story of British tradition”
Extra: https://t.co/yPWt5OEAf2 pic.twitter.com/64fW8E3oGt
— BBC Press Workplace (@bbcpress) Could 25, 2025
R.I.P. ALAN YENTOB
Unhappy to study of the passing of Alan Yentob, the long-serving BBC arts broadcaster and documentary-maker, who has died aged 78.
Bowie followers grew to become conscious of Yentob’s fifty-minute BBC 1 Cracked Actor documentary, when it first aired fifty years in the past in January… pic.twitter.com/xxkyfdxuDK
— David Bowie Official (@DavidBowieReal) Could 25, 2025
We’ve misplaced a tip prime chap. Our advocate from the beginning… Alan Yentob. pic.twitter.com/x7bs4FvM88
— Daybreak French 💙🔴🏳️🌈🇺🇦 (@Dawn_French) Could 25, 2025
Very unhappy to listen to in regards to the loss of life of Alan Yentob. Right here he’s backstage after one among my exhibits, being extremely supportive, as he all the time was. A beautiful man, and a king of TV. pic.twitter.com/sHhCqsffk7
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) Could 25, 2025
Alan Yentob was a one among a sort documentary maker, a simple broadcaster and had such an inquisitive thoughts. Knew make tv fascinating and thought upsetting.
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) Could 25, 2025
Yentob resigned from his function because the BBC’s artistic director in 2015 after going through scrutiny for his function as chairmen of Youngsters Firm, a charity accused of economic mismanagement.
He’s survived by his spouse Philippa Walker and their two kids.
