Alan Hart is a former British television executive, who from 1981 to 1984 was the Controller of BBC One.[1] His initial career was in the BBC sports department, and he rose through the ranks to become the Head of Sport in the late 1970s. In 1981, BBC One Controller Bill Cotton was promoted, and Hart was chosen to succeed him.
As channel Controller, Hart was responsible for managing the direction, content and commissioning of programmes on the BBC's premier television station.
One of Hart’s early decisions in the role was taking Doctor Who off its traditional early evening Saturday slot, which it had occupied since 1963 when it started, and giving it an early evening, twice-weekly slot, beginning in 1982. This decision was taken due to poor ratings for Tom Baker’s final season and was considered a success, as the ratings for the show doubled from the previous season. Hart also suggested a 90 minute special to celebrate the show’s 20th anniversary, which became The Five Doctors and was broadcast as part of Children in Need. In 1984 he also made the decision to change the format of Doctor Who from the traditional 25 minute episodes to 45 minute episodes for its 22nd season in 1985, while also moving it back to Saturdays to make way for the new twice-weekly soap opera, Eastenders. By the time of this season’s transmission, though, Hart had handed over control of BBC One to Michael Grade.
His tenure is not generally regarded as one of the most successful in the broadcaster’s history, largely because of the success of ITV drama during that period. However, it was Hart who greenlit BBC1's first all-year round twice-weekly drama in modern times, EastEnders. But when Michael Grade expressed a desire to return from working in the US to work for the BBC, Hart was shifted aside to allow Grade to succeed him in 1984.
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| Preceded by Bill Cotton |
Controller of BBC One 1981-1984 |
Succeeded by Michael Grade |