Former BBC executive and television presenter Alan Yentob left an estate valued at over £3 million to his wife, Philippa Walker, following his death in May 2025. The High Court last week approved the distribution of Yentob's estate, which was outlined in a four-page will finalized a year after the couple married.
Yentob's will stipulated that his trustees hold the entire estate for the benefit of Walker, confirming it as an unconditional gift. Should Walker not have survived him, their two children, Jacob and Bella, would have inherited the estate.
The couple, who had a relationship spanning four decades, married in August 2020 at Bridgwater register office in Somerset. At the time, Yentob commented on their decision to marry after so many years, attributing it partly to the experience of spending extended time together during lockdown. He humorously noted that their children were pleased the couple had "legitimised" them.
Yentob, who passed away at the age of 78, began his career at the BBC as a trainee in 1968. His career at the corporation included significant roles such as controller of BBC One and BBC Two, director of television, head of music and arts, and director of BBC drama, entertainment, and children's programming.
During his time as controller of BBC Two, Yentob was instrumental in the channel's revitalization, commissioning notable programs such as "Absolutely Fabulous," the arts series "The Late Show," and "Have I Got News For You." He was also credited with launching CBBC and CBeebies. His drama commissions included "Middlemarch" and "Pride And Prejudice," which significantly raised Colin Firth's profile.
Philippa Walker, a TV producer, described Yentob after his death as a man whose life held "the promise of something unexpected." She remembered him as "curious, funny, annoying, late and creative in every cell of his body," adding that he was a "kindest of men and a profoundly moral man."
Yentob also presented the arts documentary series "Imagine" from 2003. He stepped down as BBC creative director in 2015, citing his role as chairman of trustees at the charity Kids Company as a "serious distraction." At the time, he faced scrutiny over his involvement with the charity and allegations of attempting to influence BBC coverage of its troubles. Yentob consistently denied any conflict of interest or abuse of his position at the BBC.
In recognition of his contributions to the arts and media, Yentob was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the King in 2024. He had previously received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from De Montfort University, Leicester, in 2005.
