Bill Cotton

Sir William Frederick "Bill" Cotton CBE (23 April 1928 – 11 August 2008), [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7555107.stm|title=Sir Bill Cotton dies in hospital|date=2008-08-11|accessdate=2008-08-11|publisher=BBC News] was a British television producer and executive, and the son of big-band leader Billy Cotton.

Following a secondary education at Ardingly College, he joined BBC Television as an in-house producer of light entertainment programmes in 1956, working on various programmes such as his father’s "Billy Cotton Band Show" and popular music programme "Six-Five Special".

In 1970, Cotton was promoted to Head of Light Entertainment, following the death of Tom Sloan in May. In this position, Cotton was responsible for overseeing the production of a whole series of popular and iconic comedy programmes, including "The Morecambe and Wise Show" (1968), "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969), "The Two Ronnies" (1971) and "Bruce Forsyth's" "Generation Game" (1971). Cotton's era was generally seen as the most popular in the history of BBC Light Entertainment, with programmes such as "Morecambe and Wise" becoming icons of British popular culture and drawing huge audiences, while the more subversive "Monty Python" provided a more cutting-edge, contemporary and daring complement.

Cotton’s success as Head of Light Entertainment led to his promotion to Controller of BBC One, the Corporation’s premier and the UK’s oldest television station, in 1977. He oversaw some of the channel’s highest-ever audience figures in 1979, although this was mostly due to the main opposition, ITV, being on strike for over a hundred days.

In 1984 Cotton was promoted (after being passed over for the post in 1982) to become Managing Director of Television, a role he fulfilled until his retirement from the Corporation in 1987. Cotton subsequently did some freelance executive producing work in the light entertainment area and he has served as Chairman of Noel Gay Television. He was Chairman of Meridian Television from 1988 until 2006.

Cotton was a Vice President of the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity. He received a BAFTA Fellowship Award in 1998. He was made a Knight Bachelor for his services to Television Broadcasting and Marie Curie Cancer Care in 2001. [ [http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=56237&geotype=London&gpn=1&type=Supplement&all= The London Gazette] , 16 June 2001. Retrieved 11 August 2008.] He had previously been awarded a CBE in 1989 [ [http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=51772&geotype=London&gpn=7&type=ArchivedSupplementPage&all=&exact=&atleast=&similar= The London Gazette] , 17 June 1989. Retrieved 11 August 2008.] and an OBE in 1976. [cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4507812.ece|title=Sir Bill Cotton: BBC TV managing director and BBC1 controller (Obituary)|date=2008-08-12|accessdate=2008-08-12|publisher=Times Online]

Cotton was related to television presenter Fearne Cotton, as he was a cousin of her grandfather.

References

External links

*
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/aug/13/bbc.television Sir Bill Cotton - Obituary] from "The Guardian"
* [http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/obituaries/feature.php/21585/bill-cotton Obituary] in "The Stage"