Vale: John Howard Davies
A UK producer of a string of comedy classics including Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and The Good Life, has died.
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John Howard Davies, who produced a string of comedy classics including Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and The Good Life, has died aged 72.
Davies was a child actor, starring as Oliver Twist in David Lean’s 1948Â film of the novel, before joining the BBC in 1966.
His most notable contribution in the early days was producing the first four episodes of Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969-74) with Ian McNaughton.
He went on to produce The Goodies and Steptoe and Son, Fawlty Towers and the entire run of The Good Life, which ran from 1975 to 1978.
He became head of comedy at the BBC in 1978, launching classic shows such as Only Fools and Horses, Yes Minister and Allo, Allo! before being promoted again in 1982, to become head of light entertainment.
He also produced Mr Bean, and directed directing a special Easter 1996 episode of The Vicar of Dibley.
Source: BBC
3 Responses
Quite sad to see such an integral part of British television pass away.
And he axed Benny Hill too? British comedy has a lot to thank him for.
The best Oliver Twist of all!!
Quite the resume,but mention there of him being the one that gave Benny Hill the heave ho.