Sir Bill Cotton, the man who oversaw some of the most popular BBC shows of the Seventies, has died aged 80. 

As the corporation's head of light entertainment between 1970 and 1977, Sir Bill led the production of programmes such as Dad's Army, The Two Ronnies, Morecambe And Wise and Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Millions tuned in to watch some of Britain's most enduring classics in what is now known as television's 'golden age'.

Mass entertainer: Bill Cotton

His success led to his promotion to controller of BBC1 in 1977. He later became the BBC's managing director of television before retiring in 1987.

Born in April 1928, Sir Bill was the son of big-band leader Billy Cotton. After leaving school at 18 he joined BBC television as an in-house producer of light entertainment programmes in 1956.

He worked on various programmes such as his father's Billy Cotton Band Show and music programme Six-Five Special before being promoted to head of light entertainment.

Bruce Forsyth said it was Sir Bill's idea for him to host the phenomenally successful show The Generation Game in the 1970s.

'He wanted me to do it very badly and it changed my life,' Forsyth told the BBC.

Timeless classic: Monty Python's Flying Circus, one of the shows Bill Cotton brought the nation

He added: 'He knew what the public wanted and gave the public what they wanted.'

David Croft, one of the writers of Dad's Army, said Sir Bill was 'a wonderful showman'.

He was knighted in 2001 for his services to British broadcasting.

Speaking in 2000, Sir Bill said light entertainment formed a vital part of the nation's culture. 'Basically, fundamentally, television was a performer's medium and news and current affairs were the sideshow,' he said.

It is understood that he died in a hospital in Bournemouth.