The BBC executive and television presenter Alan Yentob passed away suddenly at the age of 78, according to Sir Tom Jones, who has written an emotional letter in response to his passing.
Sir Tom Jones has paid a poignant homage to the legendary BBC executive and television presenter Alan Yentob, who died over the weekend. The TV icon’s family shared the sad news on Sunday with an heartfelt statement, announcing that Alan had died at the age of 78.
The ‘Delilah’ singer, 84, turned to social media to pay tribute to the “talented and knowledgeable” Alan. Posting to Instagram, Tom wrote: “The very sad loss of Alan Yentob is immeasurable. What a talented, knowledgeable, instinctive and wonderful man. He opened unexpected doors for me for which I am forever grateful. A true rarity in the creative world, the likes of which will not be seen again.”
He concluded with the words: “Rest in peace Alan, you will be missed, Tom Jones”. In the past, Tom made an appearance on Alan’s prominent BBC Two programme ‘Imagine’, where, in a sincere exchange in 2010, the interviewer delved into the crooner’s life story, reports the Express.
Tom described his rise from humble beginnings as a miner’s son in South Wales to becoming a worldwide singer-songwriter and vocalist.
For television shows like “Omnibus,” “Arena,” and “Imagine,” with stars like David Bowie, Charles Saatchi, Maya Angelou, and Grayson Perry, Alan portrayed and chatted with a plethora of important figures in culture and creativity during his illustrious career.
His responsibilities included those of BBC One and Two, as well as those of the organization’s creative director and head of music and arts.
Philippa Walker, Alan’s bereaved spouse, made the announcement that he passed away, revealing that “every day with Alan had the promise of something unexpected. Both he and I had exciting lives.
He had a curiosity, a funny, a late-night, and a creative soul throughout his entire body. He was a profoundly moral and kind man, but more than that, he was. A mile-long trail of love is left in his wake.
Dawn French also paid tribute to her former BBC colleague Alan, writing: “We’ve lost a tip top chap. Our advocate from the start… Alan Yentob.”
For our children, Jacob, Bella, and I every day with Alan, according to Philippa’s wife, Philippa, in a statement released over the weekend. He and I both had exciting lives. Every cell in his body was curious, funny, obnoxious, late, and creative. He was a profoundly moral and kind man, but more than that, he was. A mile-long trail of love is left in his wake.
Source: Mirror
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