John Ammonds, born in London 21 May 1924, is a British Television
Producer of light entertainment programmes.
In 1941 he joined the BBC straight from school as a sound-effects operative.
During World War II the Light Entertainment arm of the Beeb was evacuated to
Bristol, where John worked with legends such as Robb Wilton and Tommy Handley.
After a stint working abroad he returned to London and the BBC as a studio
manager in 1947. Then in 1953, whist working for BBC Manchester, he met Eric
and Ernie for the first time.
In 1958 John became a TV producer, among his early successes was Harry Worth's
sit-com debut, and in 1964 he made Val Doonican's first TV series. That show got
16 million viewers!!
In 1968 Bill Cotton Jr, Head of Variety at the Beeb, asked John to produce and
direct the new Morecambe and Wise show. By the time he had left them 6 years
later they were huge stars.
Ammonds devised the dance (see him doing it to the right) with which Eric and
Ern closed the show, he got the idea after watching the great Groucho Marx
performing a similar routine in Horse Feathers.
In 1975 New Years Honours he was awarded the MBE.
Johnny returned to Eric and Ernie to help them with their 1982 ITV Christmas special.
He also produced shows in the 1960s and 1970s for such performers as Val Doonican, Lulu, Frankie Howerd, Marti Caine and Les Dawson.
