Jana Bennett was the former director of BBC TV who oversaw the reboot of “Doctor Who” and the popular series “Sherlock.”
- Died: Saturday, January 11, 2022. (Who else died on January 11?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 66 from brain cancer.
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Trailblazing TV executive
Jana Bennett was the first woman to be the director of television for the BBC. While in the position, she oversaw the successful series “Sherlock,” “Life on Mars,” and the reboot of “Doctor Who.” Many of the series she was involved with found popularity in America. Born in Cooperstown, New York, her family moved to England when she was a teenager. Working her way up at the BBC, she was the first female head of BBC Science in 1994. After her stint as the director of TV, Bennett was named the BBC director of vision, in charge of digital and online programming. Later, she became the President of the History Channel.
Notable Quote
“There may be a desire to own everything, but you must not stop the bus and stand in the way of a good idea … The ecology is less rich if you shape everything in your own image.” – The Guardian
Tributes to Jana Bennett
Full Obituary: New York Times
