Sir Bill Cotton CBE was the son of celebrated big band leader Billy Cotton. He spent almost his entire career working for the BBC, initially as a producer and, from mid-1970, Head of Light Entertainment. Over the following seven years he oversaw some of the most successful comedies in British television history, including sitcoms and sketch shows such as Dad's Army and The Morecambe & Wise Show. From 1977 he was promoted to Controller of BBC1, and from 1981 Deputy, then Managing Director, of Television until his retirement in 1988.