Biography
Jonathan Leslie Powell (born 25 April 1947) is an English television producer and executive. He was educated at Sherborne School and the University of East Anglia, where he studied English literature. He began working in television drama in 1968 and produced series including Crown Court.
For the BBC he produced literary adaptations such as Testament of Youth (1979) and The Barchester Chronicles (1982). He is best known as the producer of the Alec Guinness-starring serials Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) and its sequel Smiley's People (1982).
Powell later held senior BBC roles, including Head of Drama Series and Serials and Controller of BBC1 (1987–1993). He subsequently worked in independent television and became a professor and head of the department of Media Arts at Royal Holloway, University of London.
