Jonathan Leslie Powell (born April 25 1947) is a British television producer and executive.
Powell was educated at Sherborne School and the University of East Anglia. In 1968, he began working in television drama, producing programmes such as Crown Court. He produced several drama series during the 1970s, including literary adaptations such as A Christmas Carol (1977) and Wuthering Heights (1978). However, probably his most famous work was as producer of the Alec Guinness-starring BBC serials Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979) and its sequel Smiley's People (1982).
In 1983 he was made Head of Drama Series & Serials at BBC Television, and later became the overall Head of Drama. His most prominent television post came in 1987 when he succeeded Michael Grade as the Controller of BBC One, the Corporation's premier television channel and the oldest station in the UK. He was held responsible for commissioning Eldorado, a new soap opera that lasted only a year and was critically and popularly regarded as a costly fiasco and an embarrassment for the BBC. He was also involved in the ultimate cancellation of the original series of Doctor Who in 1989.
He held this post until 1993, when he left the BBC to join the independent company Carlton Television, where he became Director of Drama & Co-Production. As of December 2005, he still holds this position.
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| Media offices | ||
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| Preceded by Graeme MacDonald |
BBC Television Head of Drama 1985-1987 |
Succeeded by Mark Shivas |
| Preceded by Michael Grade |
Controller of BBC One 1987-1992 |
Succeeded by Alan Yentob |
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