Isaacs, Jeremy (1932– )

English television producer and television and opera administrator. His television career began with ITV in current affairs, and from there he went on to produce the historical documentary series The World at War for Thames TV, for whom he worked 1968–78. He was appointed chief executive of Channel 4 when it began broadcasting in 1982. In 1988 he left to be director of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where he stayed until 1997, subsequently producing another major documentary series, Cold War (1998), for the BBC.

As Channel 4's first chief executive he played a large part in establishing its alternative approach and championed the slot for newly commissioned film drama, Film on Four, which was to kick-start the British film industry after a fallow period. He produced the film Taking Sides, about the life of Berlin Philharmonic conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler, in 2003. He was knighted in 1996.