It’s a pity to have to relate the passing of Sir Bill Cotton, one of the biggest and most influential figures in BBC history.

I suppose you could say that this chap is one of the reasons that sites like Quintessential Comedy exist.

Without his commitment, show’s like Morecambe & Wise would never have had the massive following that they did during what many call the “Golden Age” of British Television.

It was certainly the golden age of Light Entertainment, and was presided over by Mr Bill Cotton as the BBC’s head of department from 1970-1977.

He was also one of the main supporters of Dad’s Army, a show which we may never have seen thanks to BBC internal politics.

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