List of BBC Heads of Light Entertainment
The following is a list of the television and radio Heads of Light Entertainment of the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Head of Light Entertainment (1948–20??)
| # | Name | Tenure | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pat Hilyard | 1948–1952 | [1] |
| 2 | Ronnie Waldman | 1952–1958 | [1][2] |
| 3 | Eric Maschwitz | 1958–1961 | [1][3] |
| 4 | Tom Sloan | 1961–1970 | [3][4] |
| 5 | Bill Cotton | 1970–1977 | [5] |
| 6 | James Gilbert | 1977–1982 | [6] |
| 7 | John Howard Davies | 1982–1985 | [7] |
| (?) | |||
| (?) | Jim Moir | 1987–1993 | [8] |
| (?) | Michael Leggo | 1994–1999 | [9] |
| (?) | David Young | 1999–2001 | [9][10] |
| (?) | Jonathan Glazier | 2001[a] | [11] |
| (?) | Wayne Garvie | 2001–2005 | [12][13] |
Head of Radio Light Entertainment (1933–20??)
Before the start of Roy Rich's tenure, the members were known as the Heads of Variety.[14]
| # | Name | Tenure | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eric Maschwitz | 1933–1937 | [15][16] |
| 2 | John Watt | 1937–1945 | [16][17] |
| 3 | Michael Standing | 1945–1952 | [18] |
| 4 | Pat Hilyard | 1952–1964 | [19][20] |
| 5 | Roy Rich | 1964–1967 | [14][19] |
| 6 | Con Mahoney | 1967–1978 | [14][19][21] |
| 7 | David Hatch | 1978–1980 | [21][22] |
| 8 | Bobby Jaye | 1981–1985 | [23] |
| 9 | Martin Fisher | 1985– | [24][25] |
| (?) | Jonathan James-Moore | 1991–1999 | [26][27] |
| (?) | |||
| (?) | Paul Schlesinger | c. 2006 | [28] |
References
Notes
- ^ Temporary role.
Citations
- ^ a b c Sandon, Dr Emma. "Variety and Music". BBC. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Brian Tesler obituary: TV executive behind primetime favourites". The Times. 1 November 2024. Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Mr. E. Maschwitz's New Post". The Times. 14 November 1961. p. 13.
- ^ "Tom Sloan - A Tribute from David Attenborough". BBC. 14 May 2022. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Barker, Dennis (12 August 2008). "Sir Bill Cotton". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "James Gilbert, man who brought together The Two Ronnies, dies at 93". The Guardian. 8 July 2016. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "John Howard Davies: Child star of David Lean's 'Oliver Twist' who became head of comedy at the BBC". The Independent. 25 August 2011. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Leapman, Michael (5 July 1993). "Ratings prompt BBC shake-up: Head of Light Entertainment moving to new post as part of drive for 'fresh thought'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ a b Pelley, Rich (8 February 2023). "In the pink! What I learned from my big day as Mr Blobby". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Deans, Jason; O'Carroll, Lisa (10 January 2001). "Blow to BBC as Young goes". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Glazier heads BBC light entertainment". Broadcast. 9 February 2001. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Garvie to spearhead BBC entertainment". Broadcast. 7 September 2001. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ Deans, Jason (8 December 2005). "Garvie switches to BBC Worldwide". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ a b c Dibbs 2019, p. 279.
- ^ Dibbs 2019, p. 276.
- ^ a b "MASCHWITZ, Eric". BFI. Archived from the original on 13 January 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ Dibbs 2019, p. 277.
- ^ Dibbs 2019, p. 277–278.
- ^ a b c Dibbs 2019, p. 264.
- ^ Dibbs 2019, p. 278.
- ^ a b "The Frequency of Laughter: A History of Radio Comedy - 1975-1980". BBC Sounds. 1 November 2014. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ "Sir David Hatch". The Telegraph. 16 June 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ "Bobby Jaye". The Telegraph. 31 January 2010. Archived from the original on 4 February 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ Jan Caston (8 January 2019). "Episode 68: Martin Fisher". UK Scriptwriters (Podcast). Podomatic. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Out of the Air". The Listener. 113. British Broadcasting Corporation: 16. 14 February 1985 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Tributes to Jonathan James-Moore". BBC Press Office. 23 November 2005. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "Jonathan James-Moore". The Independent. 24 November 2005. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
- ^ "Show Me The Funny - BBC launches new UK-wide search for next generation of funny people". BBC Press Office. 17 August 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
Works cited
- Dibbs, Martin (2019). Radio Fun and the BBC Variety Department, 1922–67: Comedy and Popular Music on Air. Kingsbarns, St Andrews: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-319-95608-4.
