James Gilbert (producer) facts for kids

Cecil James "Jimmy" Gilbert (born May 15, 1923 – died July 7, 2016) was a talented Scottish television producer, director, and executive who worked for the BBC. He helped create some of Britain's most loved comedy shows.

Early Life and Education

Jimmy Gilbert was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in May 1923. He went to school at Edinburgh Academy and then studied at Edinburgh University. He also attended the RADA, which is a famous drama school.

Serving in World War II

During World War II, Gilbert was a pilot for RAF Coastal Command. This part of the Royal Air Force protected ships and coastlines. He flew large planes like the Handley Page Halifax and the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress from RAF Wick in Scotland.

A Career in Television Comedy

Jimmy Gilbert played a huge role in British television comedy. He was known for helping to develop many popular shows and bringing together famous comedians.

Creating Iconic Comedy Shows

Gilbert was one of the people who came up with the idea for The Frost Report alongside David Frost. On this show, he brought together two future comedy legends: Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett. He also worked with many of the people who would later form the comedy group Monty Python.

Gilbert helped create the format for The Two Ronnies, a very popular comedy show that started in 1971. He worked with the show's first director, Terry Hughes. They designed the show with its fast jokes, clever wordplay, and funny characters that made fun of British life. The Two Ronnies was a huge success and ran until 1986.

Producing Beloved Series

Besides The Two Ronnies, Gilbert was also an early producer for other well-known shows. He produced Last of the Summer Wine when it started in 1973. He also produced the first series of Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? in the same year.

In 1974, Gilbert won a BAFTA award for Best Comedy for his work on Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?. He was also nominated for an award that year for Last of the Summer Wine.

Leadership at the BBC

Gilbert became the Head of Comedy for the BBC in 1973, a role he held until 1977. After that, he became the BBC's Head of Light Entertainment in 1977. He stayed in this important position until 1982, helping to shape many of the entertainment shows on British television. After leaving the BBC, he continued to work as a freelance producer.

Later Appearances

In 2003, Jimmy Gilbert appeared in a special documentary called 30 Years of Last of the Summer Wine. In the documentary, he talked about how he helped create the long-running comedy series.