Obituary: Richard Hopkins - Talented television executive who helped develop Strictly Come Dancing and Big Brother

IN A remarkable but sadly all too short career Richard Hopkins brought to television two of the most successful programmes of recent years. Both Strictly Come Dancing and Big Brother gained huge audiences – and a certain notoriety.

They reflected the very changed conditions of the television industry and Hopkins embraced those new skills with an innovative relish.

Hopkins was co-founder and joint managing director of the independent production company, Fever, and has been described by colleagues as “one of the greatest producers of his generation”.

At the BBC Hopkins worked as head of format entertainment and developed, and then produced, a range of shows including Strictly Come Dancing. He took the show’s simple but wonderfully entertaining format and made it the prime Saturday evening show for the family.

The idea of teaming celebrities with professional ballroom dancers and filming them through the learning process proved immensely popular with viewers.

After the first show Hopkins knew he had given birth to a television phenomenon.

Richard England Hopkins was the son of a scrap metal dealer and after attending Bedford School he read English literature at University College, London. He moved into the media and became a presenter firstly with Kiss FM then worked in France before returning to Kiss as a producer.

His ability to dream up original ideas for programmes was spotted by the independent company Planet 24 and in 1992 he was put in charge of the Chris Evans/Gaby Roslin Big Breakfast show on Channel 4. Success with that led him to produce and direct the late-night programme Hotel Babylon on ITV.

Hopkins had a talent for recognising niche programmes and developing them into broader shows. In 1997 he directed the magazine programme Baby Baby, aimed at parents with young children, then Channel 4’s The 11 O’Clock Show, a satirical late-night programme whose line-up included Ricky Gervais, Sacha Baron Cohen and Charlie Brooker at the start of their careers.

That year Hopkins was approached by the production company Endemol to direct the first series of Big Brother, which the company had seen in Holland but needed adjusting for UK audiences. The format was straightforward – a group of young adults living together for nine weeks were watched by cameras 24 hours a day.

Tension mounted as they voted to evict one of the housemates every week.

It was the authoritative voice of Hopkins who was heard instructing evictees: “Please leave the Big Brother house.”

It gained large viewing figures but these tailed off over time.

Strictly, as the dance show became known, brought together the entertaining and competitive nature of Come Dancing with the glamour of the 1992 Australian movie Strictly Ballroom.

Hopkins’ programme brought a fresh and exuberant feel to the dance floor and the sense of bravura of having stars of other areas as serious competitors.

Hopkins’ hunch was rewarded with Strictly becoming one of the most iconic shows of recent years. While winners such as Natasha Kaplinsky, cricketer Darren Gough and McFly drummer Harry Judd were heroes of the hour, losers – such as John Sergeant, Ann Widdecombe and Edwina Currie – also had their moment of dancing fame.

When Hopkins was told by BBC executives that the programme was unsaleable in the US he took it there himself.

He considered that the UK version of Strictly needed “a fish-out-of-water drama, tension, self-discovery and perhaps even a twinkle of romance between the couples to keep viewers hooked.

The series would also have a compelling narrative as viewers watched famous contestants struggling during rehearsals or finding delight in their ability to improve their skills.”

Hopkins brought to all his programmes an enthusiasm and energy that were reflected in his choice of the quirky characters he selected as contestants – and the situations he put them in.

The cocktail made for exciting television which offered entertainment to millions. His flair and talent for creating and developing programmes has changed the style of popular entertainment throughout the UK.

Hopkins, who died from a brain tumour, was first married to Cecile Couillet. That marriage was dissolved and last year he married Katy McLachlan, who survives him with their daughter and two daughters from his first marriage. ALASDAIR STEVEN