Education
University of Cambridge.
University of Cambridge.
Born Robin Hugh Scutt, he was schooled at Bryanston and read modern languages at Cambridge University before joining the intelligence corporations He was discharged through illness in 1942, and joined the British Broadcasting Corporation. While in the French Service, he commented on major events including VE day and VJ day. During this time, he changed his name to Scott, as his French contacts found his original name difficult to say.
During this time, he wrote the song Softly Softly, a British number one hit for Ruby Murray.
In 1958, he moved to the British Broadcasting Corporation Paris bureau, and was seconded to Transport-Europe Television between 1964 and 1966. He was appointed the Controller of the Light Programme in March 1967, and devised a format for the corporation"s new popular music programme.
His vision deliberately echoed the pirate radio broadcasters that would be outlawed by the Marine Broadcast Offences Acting in August 1967. This popular station, British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 1, launched on 30 September 1967, with a signature tune commissioned by Scott, Theme One, recorded by George Martin.
He was also Controller of British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 2, the successor to the Light Programme.
He was succeeded as 2 and Radio 1 by Douglas Muggeridge. Robin Scott was appointed television in 1968, succeeding David Attenborough. During his five years in the post, his aim was to secure 15% of the overall viewing audience by balancing highbrow and populist programming.
In 1974, Scott was made the head of the forward-planning department Development in Television, a remit that included the prospect of satellite broadcasting.
He later became the Deputy Managing Director of Television, the second most-senior post in television After retiring from the British Broadcasting Corporation in October 1980, he was part of one an unsuccessful submission to broadcast breakfast television on Independent Television. He subsequently joined the board of London Weekend Television, and produced television versions of opera and ballet productions for the National Video Corporation.
He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1976.