Sir David Hatch dies

David Hatch has died at the age of 68.

He was the first producer of Just A Minute and probably the single person most responsible for the development of the show.

Ian Messiter came up with the idea and rules, but it was David Hatch that brought it to life.

He was at that time, 1967, a talented young producer, aged 28. The BBC commisisoned a pilot, but didn't want to commission the series. David Hatch told his bosses "I think we have a winner here. If I'm wrong, I clearly don't know much about radio". He said he would resign if the series didn't go ahead.

That was a very brave thing for a young producer to say against the hierarchial stuffy BBC bosses.

And as we know the BBC gave in, and the series did go ahead. That shows how much they wanted to retain the talented young man

And the key casting of Nicholas, Clement, Derek, Kenneth and Peter was all the work of David Hatch.

David Hatch produced the first few seasons, and then shared production duties until 1974. He returned to produce the series for three years from 1979 to 1981.

He will be sorely missed.

The BBC's tribute can be found here.

This article also has some interesting information.