Elkan Allan
| Elkan Allan | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Elkan Philip Cohen 8 December 1922 Cricklewood, London, England, UK |
| Died | 25 June 2006 (aged 83) London, England, UK |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Television producer, print journalist |
Elkan Allan (born Elkan Philip Cohen, 8 December 1922 – 25 June 2006) was a British television producer and print journalist. Allan is best remembered for his creation of the pioneering popular cult 1960s TV rock/pop music show Ready Steady Go!. After 1968 he was for many years the television editor of The Sunday Times.
Allan was born Elkan Philip Cohen in Cricklewood, London, in December 1922, the son of Rose (née Prager) and Allan Cohen. His father was a furrier, who later became involved in the printing industry. Allan was educated at Quinton School in St John's Wood. At some point during his childhood, his parents changed their surname from Cohen to Allan. Elkan changed his name by deed poll the day before his eighteenth birthday.
Elkan Allan's career in print journalism began in 1941, when he became the assistant editor of The Outfitter, a trade journal for menswear retailers. Allan was exempt from military service during World War II for health reasons. His contributions to The Outfitter included the column "Dress Circle", which featured reviews of costumes in theatre productions. He later worked for the Daily Express, Picture Post, John Bull and The Illustrated London News.
In the mid-1940s, Allan moved into radio broadcasting, developing and overseeing the first quiz shows on BBC radio, Quiz Time and Quiz Team. In 1953, he began working in television broadcasting, initially presenting Armchair Traveller. When ITV was launched in 1955, he moved to the new network as a reporter, later becoming a producer for This Week, a current affairs programme. In 1960, Allan began writing and producing documentaries for television. This included Freedom Road, which won three awards at the 1961 Berlin television festival.
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