Sir David Edwin Hatch, CBEJP (7 May 1939 – 13 June 2007)[1][2] was an English broadcaster, involved in production and management at BBC Radio where he held many executive positions, including Head of Light Entertainment (Radio), Controller of BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4 and later managing director of BBC Radio.[3]
Some of these overlapped with his earlier executive positions in the BBC: Radio Network Editor, BBC Manchester 1974–78; Head of Light Entertainment (Radio), BBC 1978–80; Controller, BBC Radio 2 1980–83; Controller, BBC Radio 4 1983–86; Director of Programmes, BBC Radio (later Network Radio, BBC) 1986–87, managing director 1987–93; Vice-Chairman, BBC Enterprises 1987–93; Adviser to the Director-General, BBC 1993–95.[2] In 1990, he created the original Radio 5. He was appointed CBE in the 1994 Birthday Honours for services to radio broadcasting.[6]
Hatch was a regular chairman of the radio panel quiz game Wireless Wise (1999–2003), made for BBC Radio 4 by Testbed Productions, and presented or appeared in other programmes including an edition of Radio Heads (2003), a three-hour omnibus collection of his radio programmes on BBC 7, and a Radio 4 Archive Hour (2006) celebration of the BBC's Broadcasting House building in London.
Later career
Hatch left the Corporation and became Chairman of the National Consumer Council (1996–2000) and later of the Parole Board (2000–2004) for England and Wales, for which he was knighted in the 2004 New Year Honours.[7][3] In the latter role in 2003, he described Tony Martin, the farmer convicted of manslaughter, as a "very dangerous man" in an interview for The Times. Hatch's comments were criticized by Martin's supporters.[8][9]
Hatch was also the chairman of SSVC (the Services Sound and Vision Corporation) between 1999 and 2004. After retiring, he retained the position of Life Vice-President on the SSVC Board of Trustees. SSVC operated many facilities on behalf of the MoD including BFBS Radio and TV.
