Bennett-Jones to give BAFTA lecture

Bennett-JonesLONDON -- U.K. agent and TV producer Peter Bennett-Jones is set to deliver the BAFTA Annual Television Lecture on Sept. 19. Bennett-Jones will give his views on the state of creativity within the U.K. industry and what the future holds for the biz. He was managing director of TV shingle TalkBack Prods. from 1982-86. In 1988, he formed PBJ Management to nurture local comedic talent, including Rowan Atkinson, Armando Iannucci and Eddie Izzard. The same year, he founded Tiger Television, whose credits included "Mr Bean" and "Billy Elliott." It later became Tiger Aspect, which he left earlier this year. He was awarded the BAFTA Special Award in May. Amanda Berry, BAFTA chief exec, said: "Peter has nurtured and championed some of the most distinctive and compelling talent to have graced British television screens. Creativity and innovation are more important today than ever, so who better to share his views on how the industry can foster and champion creative excellence?" BAFTA has also revealed the lineup for its Screenwriters' Lecture Series, which it co-hosts with the British Film Institute next month. Speakers will include William Nicholson ("Gladiator"), Moira Buffini ("Jane Eyre"), John Logan ("The Aviator"), Guillermo Arriaga ("Babel"), Frank Cottrell Boyce ("Hilary and Jackie"), Paul Laverty ("The Wind That Shake the Barley") and Charlie Kaufman ("Being John Malkovich"). Contact Leo Barraclough at leo.barraclough@variety.com