Sir Jeremy Isaacs (born 28 September 1932) is a British television producer and executive, winner of many BAFTA awards and international Emmy Awards. He was also General Director of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (1987–96).
The best response to extremist views is to fight them in the open, carry the argument to those who hold them, and let the public judge. That entails a properly conducted discussion. No BNP interviews, please, with Jonathan Ross. But Question Time (1979), with David Dimbleby in charge, should, even allowing for the volatile studio audience, shed more light than heat.
2
In the 1960s, the BBC's Director General, Hugh Greene, insisted on impartiality and the stringency needed to achieve it. But he said that, on race, the BBC could not be neutral; we were against racism. At Smethwick, in the 1966 election, senior BBC editors were not sure whether to report nationally on the views expressed there. The liberal consensus found reasons not to give racist resentments a hearing. They festered as a result.
3
We live in an electoral democracy. The BBC has a duty to present a full range of political opinion; not every lone nutter or crackpot of course, but any grouping that visibly represents a segment of the population.
4
Preying on concerns over immigration and jobs, the BNP responds to fears the bigger parties may ignore. Someone has to. The BNP is entitled to a minimal share of public air-time. Those who vote for them deserve to be heard. The journalist's responsibility is to present their views in context and, with proper rigour, to examine what they say and challenge their assumptions. It is easier to do that on Today or Newsnight (1980) than on lightweight programmes aiming to be user-friendly and accessible, especially to younger audiences.
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Fact
1
The first Chief Executive of Channel Four (1982 - 1987).
2
He was made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in recognition of his outstanding contribution to television culture.
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Taking Sides
2001
co-producer
Millennium: A Thousand Years of History
1999
TV Series executive producer - as Sir Jeremy Isaacs
Cold War
1998
TV Mini-Series documentary executive producer
This Week
1963-1991
TV Series producer - 76 episodes
Ireland: A Television History
1980-1981
TV Series documentary series producer - 13 episodes
A Sense of Freedom
1979
producer
The World at War
TV Mini-Series documentary series producer - 24 episodes, 1973 - 1974 producer - 2 episodes, 1973 - 1974
Queen of Hearts
1972
TV Movie documentary executive producer
Panorama Review of the Year 1965
1965
TV Movie producer
All Our Yesterdays
1960
TV Series documentary producer
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mitridate, re di Ponto
1993
TV Movie general director: Royal Opera House
Carmen by Georges Bizet
1991
TV Movie general director: Royal Opera House
Hollywood
1980
TV Mini-Series documentary special consultant - 4 episodes
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Cold War
1998
TV Mini-Series documentary episode "Conclusions 1989-1991"
Growing up with 4: Storm Over 4
1998
TV Movie documentary novel
The World at War
1974
TV Mini-Series documentary written by - 1 episode
This Week
1965
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ireland: A Television History
1980
TV Series documentary
Editor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Panorama
1953
TV Series documentary 1 episode
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Granpa
1989
TV Short grateful thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
2013
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Verity Lambert: Drama Queen
2008
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Channel 4 at 25
2007
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Chief Executive 1981-1987 (as Sir Jeremy Isaacs)
$950,000