Brian Tesler obit

Brian Tesler 1929-2024

 

He was not on the list.

It is with regret that we note the passing of Brian Tesler at the age of 95.

Stepney-born Brian began his broadcasting career with the British Forces Network in Italy during World War II. He joined the BBC Television Service in 1952 as a trainee producer and joined ATV in 1957.

In 1960 he was headhunted by ABC Weekend’s Howard Thomas to become the head of Features and Light Entertainment at the midlands and north station, rising to become Director of Programmes with a seat on the company board.

He continued the Director of Programmes role at Thames Television when that combination of ABC and Rediffusion talent launched in 1968. He then became deputy Managing Director of rival firm London Weekend Television in 1974, again rising through the ranks to become Chief Executive by 1976. He was also a board member of Channel 4 and Super Channel. He retired from television in 1994.

He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1986 for services to broadcasting.

 

His wife Audrey (married 1959) predeceased him in 2008.

Producer

Alice Through the Looking Box (1960)

Alice Through the Looking Box

TV Movie

producer

1960

 

Sammy Davis Jr Meets the British

TV Special

producer

1960

 

Live from Talk of the Town

TV Series

producer

1959

 

Val Parnell's Spectacular (1956)

Val Parnell's Spectacular

6.0

TV Series

producer

1958–1959

5 episodes

 

New Look

TV Series

producer

1958–1959

6 episodes

 

Secombe and Friends

TV Mini Series

producer

1959

 

A Santa for Christmas

TV Movie

producer

1957

 

Bruce Forsyth, Frankie Howerd, Des O'Connor, Jimmy Tarbuck, and Norman Wisdom in Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1955)

Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium

7.5

TV Series

producer

1957

1 episode

 

Benny Hill and Peter Vernon in The Benny Hill Show (1957)

The Benny Hill Show

7.7

TV Series

producer

1957

1 episode

 

The Howerd Crowd

TV Movie

producer

1957

 

Billy Cotton Band Show

7.7

TV Series

producer

1956

15 episodes

 

The Great Little Tilley

TV Movie

producer

1956

 

Fast and Loose

TV Series

producer

1955

5 episodes

 

Bath-Night with Braden

TV Series

producer

1955

6 episodes

 

The Centre Show

4.3

TV Series

producer

1955

1 episode

 

Charlotte Mitchell in And So to Bentley (1954)

And So to Bentley

6.6

TV Series

producer

1954

6 episodes

 

The Name's the Same

TV Series

television presentation

1953–1954

26 episodes

 

Stand-In

TV Special

producer

1954

 

Barbara with Braden

TV Movie

producer

1953

 

Why?

TV Series

producer

1953

3 episodes

 

Director

Sammy Davis Jr Meets the British

TV Special

Director

1960

 

Secombe and Friends

TV Mini Series

Director

1959

 

Bruce Forsyth, Frankie Howerd, Des O'Connor, Jimmy Tarbuck, and Norman Wisdom in Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1955)

Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium

7.5

TV Series

Director

1957–1958

2 episodes

 

A Santa for Christmas

TV Movie

Director

1957

 

Benny Hill and Peter Vernon in The Benny Hill Show (1957)

The Benny Hill Show

7.7

TV Series

Director

1957–1960

 

Val Parnell's Spectacular (1956)

Val Parnell's Spectacular

6.0

TV Series

Director

1957

2 episodes

 

The Howerd Crowd

TV Movie

Director

1957

 

Barbara with Braden

TV Movie

Director (uncredited)

1953

 

Writer

New Look

TV Series

deviser

1959

4 episodes