John Willis

John Willis is a British television executive, documentary film director, and historian. He is known for his extensive career in British broadcasting, having held senior leadership roles including Director of Programmes at Channel 4 and Director of Factual and Learning at the BBC. Willis served as the chairman of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) from 2012 to 2014. As a historian and author, he has published several books focused on the Second World War.

Early life and education Willis was educated at Eltham College, an independent school in London, where he was Head Boy. He subsequently attended Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he read history.

Television career Willis began his television career as a documentary maker at Yorkshire Television.

In 1988, Willis moved to Channel 4 as Controller of Factual Programmes, where he introduced established documentary strands such as Cutting Edge and True Stories.

Selected filmography Johnny Go Home (1975) – Director / Producer Rampton: The Secret Hospital (1979) – Director Alice: A Fight for Life (1982) – Director

Selected bibliography