Former BBC One boss Sir Paul Fox has died.
Sir Paul Fox has died
The late executive - who was best known for launching shows including 'The Two Ronnies' and 'Dad's Army' and inventing BBC Sports Personality of the Year - has passed away at the age of 98, his family announced on Tuesday (09.04.24).
Paying tribute to the broadcasting legend, current BBC Director General Tim Davie said in a statement: “Sir Paul had a towering career in television - not just with the BBC - but across the industry.
“Few people have had such a broad and lasting impact on the TV landscape, commissioning shows that audiences have loved for decades and still love. From Sports Personality of the Year and Panorama to the Two Ronnies, Dad’s Army and Parkinson, his legacy is unmatched.
“He was one of the best TV executives from a golden era in television. He will be hugely missed.”
Paul, who was born in 1925, was a serviceman in Parachute Regiment but began his broadcasting career when he joined the BBC in the 1950s as a newsreel scriptwriter before editing 'Panorama' and 'Sportsview'.
He then became Controller of BBC One, where he oversaw a number of hugely successful shows including 'Parkinson', 'Dad's Army' and 'The Two Ronnies'.
He moved to Yorkshire TV in 1973, where he ultimately became Managing Director, but left in 1988 and returned to the BBC as Managing Director of Network Television.
He retired in 1991 and received a knighthood for services to TV the same year.
TV producer Richard Marson paid tribute to the "broadcasting Titan".
He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Sir Paul Fox deserved the overused term ‘legend’ - he was a broadcasting Titan. On a personal note, he contributed to several projects of mine - from the TV Centre doc to the biographies of Verity Lambert and Biddy Baxter. Razor sharp, acerbic, wise and kind."