'Lovely man and king of TV' Yentob dies aged 78

TRIBUTES were paid to Alan Yentob last night after the former BBC boss and presenter died at 78.

- By Giles Sheldrick Chief Reporter

Yentob joined the broadcaster as a trainee in 1968 and rose to be controller of BBC One and BBC Two, director of TV, head of music and arts, plus director of drama, entertainment and children.

The comedian David Baddiel praised him as a “lovely man and a king of TV”.

Legend

He was made CBE for services to the arts and media last year, pictured right.

The Pet Shop Boys, subject of one of his Imagine documentaries, said: "Alan was a legend...responsible for some of the BBC’s finest programmes. A great supporter of all artistic endeavours.”