Alan Yentob

Alan Yentob is the Creative Director for the BBC.

His role is to ensure that the Creative Future recommendations are implemented across all content and services.

He has responsibility for a significant film division and chairs the board of BBC Films.

He is also the focal point for talent management across the whole of the BBC.

Alan is the Chair of the Creative Training Board, the Creative Network and the new Arts Network which will pull together arts programme-makers from across the BBC.

In Spring 2003 Alan presented and wrote the landmark documentary on Leonardo Da Vinci and became host of BBC One's successful and acclaimed arts strand, Imagine.

A celebrated and award-winning programme maker, Alan quickly came to personify the creative spirit of the BBC.

He joined as a general trainee in 1968, taking his first job in the World Service.

From 1973 to 1975 he was a producer/director with Omnibus, where his films famously included Cracked Actor with David Bowie.

In 1978 he created the mould-breaking arts series Arena, and was Editor until 1985. During this time Arena produced influential programmes including The Private Life Of The Ford Cortina and My Way.

In 1985 he became Head of Music and Arts and stayed in the post until 1988 when he was appointed Controller of BBC Two.

Under Alan's five year stewardship BBC Two was re-vitalised and introduced many innovations in programming including The Late Show, Have I Got News For You, Absolutely Fabulous and Wallace and Gromit's The Wrong Trousers.

Factual programme successes included Troubleshooter and Video Diaries.

He was appointed Controller of BBC One in 1993, significantly improving its content and share.

He became Director of Programmes in Production in 1997, then Director of Television between 1998 and April 2000 when he became Director of Drama, Entertainment and CBBC.

In June 2004 he became the BBC's Creative Director.

Alan was born on 11 March 1947.

His outside responsibilities include sitting on the Boards of The South Bank and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and Chairmanship of the Institute of Contemporary Art and the charity Kids Company.

Source: BBC Press Office