The Times has published this obituary (subscription needed to read the full version):

ALAN PROTHEROE
Outspoken BBC Deputy Director-General who battled with nervous governors over the corporation’s investigative journalism

Alan Protheroe became Editor of BBC Television News in the 1970s and Assistant Director-General in the 1980s during a stormy period at the corporation when the governors were increasingly censorious of editorial decisions. He combined these considerable duties with enthusiastic membership of the Territorial Army, being promoted to full colonel and appointed CBE (mil).

Alan Hackford Protheroe was born in 1934 in St Davids, Pembrokeshire, and brought up in a bilingual clerical household. His mother was a teacher who wrote children’s books and the young Alan inherited her skill with words in both languages. His parents wished him to teach, but he chose to leave Maesteg Grammar School at 16 to become a trainee journalist on the Glamorgan Gazette. His introduction to broadcasting was as a young radio actor — often alongside a youthful Richard Burton.

In his National Service (1954-56) he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Welsh Regiment; he remained fascinated with military matters for the rest of his life. He returned to BBC Wales in 1957 as a reporter, and two years later was promoted to be industrial correspondent and subsequently editor for all BBC Wales news and current affairs programmes in both English and Welsh. In 1970 his evident achievements in this role persuaded London to poach him for television news at Alexandra Palace, as assistant and then deputy editor. In 1977 he was appointed editor for what would be three successful years, and this led to his appointment as assistant director of news and current affairs for the whole of the BBC’s domestic output.

The "Independent" has a tribute to Alan Protheroe here.


The "Daily Telegraph" has an obituary here.