John Howard Davies(1939-2011)

As a TV producer, presided over the birth of Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969); as a TV executive, presided over the 1989 demise of The Benny Hill Show (1969).

My initial reaction to this remake was the same as quite a lot of people: why? I don't like remakes of programmes anyway. It's unimaginative. It's much better to start afresh with a blank sheet of paper. I think Martin Clunes is wonderful and he may save the day, but I'm pessimistic. I probably won't watch it. Comedy is like wine - it improves with age. And Leonard Rossiter was Reggie Perrin. He was the catalyst for the show's success. (On Reggie Perrin (2009))