Producer of Fawlty Towers and more

John Howard Davies, the esteemed comedy producer whose credits include Fawlty Towers, Monty Python and The Good Life has died at the age of 72 following a battle with cancer.

His success as a producer led him to become head of comedy at the BBC, where he launched Yes Minister, Not the Nine O'Clock News, the Fall and Rise Of Reginald Perrin and Only Fools and Horses – among many others.

The news was reported on the official twitter feed of QI – whose creator John Lloyd worked with Davies on Not The Nine O’Clock News.

Davies died yesterday morning at his home in Blewbury, Oxfordshire. His son William Davies said: "My father had an absolutely extraordinary career, was unfailingly supportive as a parent and will be greatly missed. He died surrounded by his family.'

The son of scriptwriter Jack Davies, who wrote for Norman Wisdom, Davies was a child actor, starring as Oliver Twist in David Lean's 1948 film of the novel, before joining the BBC in 1966. He co-produced the first four episodes of Flying Circus before moving to what would become another classic comedy, The Goodies, where he produced the first two series.

His other early production credits included the 1972 series of Steptoe and Son, Frankie Howerd’s Whoops Baghdad, Spike Milligan’s The World of Beachcomber and the religious sitcom All Gas and Gaiters.

After a year with an independent production company, Davies returned to the BBC in the mid-Seventies, where he produced every episode of The Good Life and the first series of Fawlty Towers. He became head of comedy in 1978.

In 1985, he left the BBC to join Thames Television, where, as an executive, he helped launch Mr Bean and After Henry.

Published: 23 Aug 2011