The television and theatre producer Allan McKeown, responsible for shows including Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Birds of a Feather, has died at his home in Los Angeles, it has been announced. The 67-year-old husband of comedian Tracey Ullman had been suffering from prostate cancer.
His daughter Mabel McKeown said: "My brilliant, funny, extraordinary father Allan McKeown passed away on Christmas Eve. Thank you all for the love."
McKeown had a varied career that encompassed hairdressing, advertising and the media business. He was involved in television shows including Lovejoy and Shine on Harvey Moon and plays such as Jerry Springer: The Opera and the musical Lennon.
He worked on several shows with Tracey Ullman and the couple moved to the US in 1996. In 1997, the couple won eight Emmy awards for Tracey Takes On... and State of the Union. Previously he was one of Britain's first independent TV producers and was a founder member of Meridian, which operated the ITV franchise in south-east England.
Maurice Gran, a collaborator on Birds of a Feather, said: "He pioneered indie TV production, told great stories and changed lives – including mine."
McKeown is survived by Ullman, Mabel and son Johnny.
