Imagine - Jacob Collier: In the Room Where it Happens - 02:10 am Tuesday, July 7 on BBC Four

Alan Yentob (Presenter)

Born: March 11, 1947 in London

Best Known For: His stint as a BBC TV executive.

Early-life: Born in London on 11 March, 1947. He and his non-identical twin brother, Robert, who went on to run the family textile business, boarded at the King's School, Ely. Alan passed his A-levels at 16, and left school for spells in France at the Sorbonne in Paris and the Grenoble University before studying law at Leeds University. He made his first foray into TV as a general trainee in 1968, taking his first job in the BBC World Service. In 1978, he created the mould-breaking arts series Arena, and was the programme's editor until 1985. During this time, Arena produced a number of influential documentaries including The Private Life of The Ford Cortina and My Way.

Career: In 1985, Yentob became the BBC's Head of Music and Arts and stayed in the post until 1988, when he was appointed Controller of BBC Two. Under Yentob's five-year stewardship, he introduced many innovations in programming including The Late Show, Have I Got News For You, Absolutely Fabulous and Wallace and Gromit's The Wrong Trousers. He was appointed Controller of BBC One in 1993 and worked at the BBC under the title of Creative Director until he resigned in 2015. He has fronted the Imagine strand, the BBC's answer to the South Bank Show, since 2003.

Quote: 'The relationship between TV and film is a very potent one. It's extraordinary how much British talent there is.'

Trivia: He is a patron of the Shakespeare Schools Festival, a charity that enables children to perform Shakespeare in professional theatres.

Stormzy (Contributor)

Chris Martin (Contributor)

Born: March 02, 1977 in Exeter

Best Known For: Being Coldplay's frontman.

Early-life: Christopher Anthony John Martin was born on March 2, 1977, in Devon. His mother is a teacher, his father an accountant. He has four younger siblings. After attending Sherborne School, he enrolled at University College London, where he gained at first class degree in Ancient World Studies. Before finding fame he made ends meet working as a sign painter.

Career: Martin has been playing in bands since he was 15. He became friends with Will Champion, Guy Berryman and Jonny Buckland during their first week at university. Their mutual love of music prompted them to join forces, and Martin and Buckland began writing songs together. An impressive three-track EP and a concert in Manchester led to a record deal. Their first album, Parachutes, was a resounding success. By the time A Rush of Blood to the Head came out, the band were a hit across the globe. Their third album, X&Y, continued their success and the fourth, Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, was equally successful after its release in 2008.

Quote: 'It's hard for us sometimes because we are English and we do not like to admit that we think we are great.'

Trivia: Martin has also written songs for such artists as Embrace and Jamelia.

Hans Zimmer (Contributor)

Janet Lee (Executive producer)

Amy Foster (Executive producer)

Andrew Ruhemann (Executive producer)

David Shulman (Producer)

Tom Harrad (Producer)

Lennaart van Oldenborgh (Editor)

Imagine: Jacob Collier: In the Room Where it Happens

02:10 am - 03:25 am, Tuesday, July 7 on BBC Four (9)

About this Broadcast

Jacob Collier: In the Room Where it Happens

Cast & Crew

More Information

Did You Know..

Before / After