Biography

Michael Hurll was born on October 7, 1936 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK. He was a producer and director, known for The Two Ronnies (1971), A Christmas Night with the Stars (1958) and World of Laughter (1974). He was married to Sandra Jalland. He died on September 18, 2012 in London, England, UK.

Veteran British television producer with a taste for live television. Shows with which he has been long identified include Crackerjack, Top of the Pops, The Two Ronnies, and Entertainment USA. He has also enjoyed working relationships with presenters such as Noel Edmonds and Cilla Black.

In 1986, Hurll's career suffered a setback when a member of the public died while rehearsing a stunt for The Noel Edmonds' Late Late Breakfast Show, a programme he produced. Since this time, he has worked almost exclusively for ITV as a producer and director.

By the early 1990s, he had established his own independent production house - Michael Hurll Television - which continues to provide programming for the television networks, and is responsible in particular for the annual British Comedy Awards.

His son, Jeremy Hurll, is a television researcher.

He joined the BBC in 1956, after having directed fellow student Jonathan Miller in a school revue. His first job was as a lowly "call boy" (runner), alongside fellow newcomer Michael Winner, bringing on guests for the Billy Cotton Band Show.

We're not producers. We're psychologists. The great trick is when you want to tell the talent something they don't want to hear, you always say "We don't think it would be a good idea...". It never fails. [interview with The Independent in 2007]