Alan J. W. Bell (born 14 November 1937[1]; Battersea, London)[2] is a British television producer and director. He has produced and/or directed many BBC series since the early 1970s, most notably Last of the Summer Wine,[3] Ripping Yarns and the TV adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.[4] He was also assigned to re-edit and improve Ronnie Barker's short 1982 film, By the Sea. Other comedy shows include There's a Lot of it About, The Hello Goodbye Man, The Clairvoyant, Wyatt's Watchdogs, Dogfood Dan and the Carmarthen Cowboy and Split Ends.