Biography

Staff writer, BBC 1955-1963, BBC Head of Sport 1963-1973, BBC Head of Outside Broadcasts 1972-1974, Controller, BBC1 1974-1977; Managing Director, Thames Television 1977-1985; Deputy Chairman of Mirror Group Newspapers; Consultant for IMG.

In the era when there were just three television channels in the UK, he was the most successful controller BBC One has ever had, as during his period running the channel it achieved an average audience share of 45 per cent.

In the context of more than 200 channels how can little green vans going up and down the country saying effectively: 'What are you watching and have you got a licence to watch it?' survive? (On the television licence fee)