Gareth Gwenlan

Gareth was born in Wales and trained as an actor and teacher at Drama School after National Service. He started out as a theatre director in York and Derby, then moved to the Altrincham Garrick as Artistic Director for the 1964/65 season.

Although only at the Garrick for that one season, what a season he chose. It included The Rattle of a Simple Man, An Ideal Husband, A Man for All Seasons, The Boyfriend, plus a Pantomime that nearly broke the bank.

In 1965, he left the Garrick to join the BBC, for what he described in his memoir as "an extra 10 bob".

At the BBC, Gareth became a well-known producer responsible for such shows as Only Fools and Horses, Butterflies, To the Manor Born, The Green Green Grass, and The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin.

Between 1983 and 1990, he became Head of BBC Comedy, commissioning such iconic shows as Blackadder, One Foot in the Grave, Bread, and Birds of a Feather. He also received 2 BAFTAs.