John Birt, Baron Birt is a former Director-General of the BBC who was in the post from 1992 to 2000. After a successful career in commercial television, first at Granada Television and then at London Weekend Television, Birt was appointed Deputy Director-General of the BBC in 1987 for his current affairs expertise. The forced departure of Director-General Alasdair Milne following pressure from the Thatcher government required someone at the top, preferably from outside the BBC, with editorial and production experience. During his tenure as Director-General, Birt restructured the BBC, in the face of much internal opposition. However, others have credited him with saving the corporation from possible government sell-off, and say he properly equipped it to face the digital age. Birt was Strategic Advisor to Prime Minister Tony Blair from 2001 to 2005. 

December 10th, 1944 in Liverpool (Age 79)