Joanna Spicer

Joanna Ravenscroft Spicer CBE born Joanna Gibbon (29 April 1906 – 17 March 1992) was a British television executive employed by the BBC. Described by the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as "virtually unknown", she was involved with discussions leading to Doctor Who and Civilisation. It was said that she "ran BBC Television single handed". She gained a place at Somerville College in Oxford after attending St Paul's Girls' School. She studied history and, after graduating with a second class degree, she stayed for an extra year to gain a post graduate qualification in education.

Spicer became the assistant controller of planning at the BBC and was one of those who backed the idea of creating a science fiction series for Saturday evenings. This resulted in Doctor Who. The BBC credit Spicer as being the main proponent of it being initially based at Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd's Bush.

Spicer died in Charing Cross Hospital. Holding, as she did, a key job during an important time in the history of British television, the veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby described her over 30 years after her death as a “great woman” who “today would be Director-General”, although Monica Sims, former head of children’s programmes, has spoken regretfully of what she saw as Spicer’s preference for promoting the careers of “beautiful young men”