Aubrey Singer

January 21, 1927 (age 80)

Bradford, United Kingdom

He has been described as "the greatest director general that the British Broadcasting Corporation never had". He was head of the Features Group which included Science & Features, Arts Features, and General Features. This group largely made documentary programmes. Singer took the lead in finding international funding for very ambitious co-productions, leading to the so-called "Science Spectaculars" written by Nigel Calder, and then the 13-part "personal view" series such as Civilisation (1969) and The Ascent of Manitoba (1973). He was also largely responsible for the historic 1967 Our World global satellite broadcast, which featured The Beatles. Singer was the controller of British Broadcasting Corporation Two from 1974 until 1978, who replaced Robin Scott and was replaced himself by Brian Wenham. He spoke to the Oxford University Broadcasting Society in 1975. From 1978 Singer was managing director of British Broadcasting Corporation Radio and from 1982 he was managing director of British Broadcasting Corporation Television. He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1984. After early retirement from the British Broadcasting Corporation, he established White City Films where he was managing director until 1996. Singer married Cynthia Adams in 1949 and they had two children.

Aubrey Singer

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director head broadcasting executive

Background

Singer was born in Bradford, England, left school aged 17 to train as a film editor, and joined the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1949.

Career

He has been described as "the greatest director general that the British Broadcasting Corporation never had". He was head of the Features Group which included Science & Features, Arts Features, and General Features. This group largely made documentary programmes.

Singer took the lead in finding international funding for very ambitious co-productions, leading to the so-called "Science Spectaculars" written by Nigel Calder, and then the 13-part "personal view" series such as Civilisation (1969) and The Ascent of Manitoba (1973).

He was also largely responsible for the historic 1967 Our World global satellite broadcast, which featured The Beatles. Singer was the controller of British Broadcasting Corporation Two from 1974 until 1978, who replaced Robin Scott and was replaced himself by Brian Wenham.

He spoke to the Oxford University Broadcasting Society in 1975. From 1978 Singer was managing director of British Broadcasting Corporation Radio and from 1982 he was managing director of British Broadcasting Corporation Television.

He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1984.

After early retirement from the British Broadcasting Corporation, he established White City Films where he was managing director until 1996. Singer married Cynthia Adams in 1949 and they had two children.

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Aubrey Singer

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Commander of the Order of the British Empire