James Moir

James Moir (usually known as Jim Moir) was a senior BBC executive for many years until his retirement in 2003. Among the programmes he produced were Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game from 1971-75.

Having been BBC Head of Light Entertainment from 1987–1993, he was appointed Controller of BBC Radio 2 in 1995 and took up his post in 1996. Many assumed this would be a quiet end to his career but he turned the station from a declining backwater to the most popular in the UK, winning back many former Radio 1 listeners who had defected to commercial radio. This was achieved through broadcasters like Steve Wright, Johnnie Walker, Janice Long, Paul Gambaccini, Lynn Parsons, Bob Harris and Alan Freeman, all of whom joined Radio 2 during Moir's controllership.

Moir was also responsible for negotiations between the BBC and the British royal family and negotiated the reduction in the scale of the BBC's planned coverage of the Queen Mother's death.

Moir is now married and lives in a little country town. He claims he 'loves his new life and wouldn't swap it for all the riches in the world'. News of his engagement brought great shock to his friends, but once the lady was confirmed as human enough for Moir, she was gladly accepted. She claims 'James is a bit crazy at time, but nothing I can't handle.'

Since June 2004 Moir has been a non-executive director of Celador Radio Broadcasting and advises on company licence applications. He is a Fellow of The Radio Academy.