Heartfelt industry tributes after Jewish producer Will Daws dies suddenly aged 57

Will Daws, the widely respected Jewish TV producer who made programmes for Top Gear’s James May, died suddenly on Monday at the age of 57.

Daws grew up in Hampstead and lived with his family in Queen’s Park. He had only recently returned from a trip to Israel, a place he loved.

He met business partner Stuart Cabb at the BBC, and they left to set up Plum Pictures in 2007, under the Hat-Trick umbrella. Victoria Moss joined them, and the trio created a hugely successful business and extended family, who are all said to be “utterly heartbroken”.

Will Daws also produced several shows with Amazing Spaces presenter George Clarke, and others with the likes of Simon Reeve, Stefan Gates, Peter Snow, Hannah Fry, Johnny Vegas and Ronnie Corbett.

Writing in tribute, Stuart Cabb said: “Will was like a brother to me. I’m still in denial that this has happened. He was a wonderful friend and extraordinary business partner. Life will be so much less fun without him.”

Victoria Moss, head of production, Plum Pictures, said: “The dearest of friends, the world is too quiet without him. He managed to joyfully fill all of the space around us all.”

James May said: “Will Daws was more like the leader of a big, happy gang than someone who fitted the cliched mould of a television executive (a title he loathed anyway). He worked under a simple mantra that said television should be enjoyable to make, otherwise it wouldn’t be enjoyable to watch.

“We discussed this when we met, 18 years ago, and as a result, almost everything I’ve done outside of car programming has been made with Will and Plum Pictures. He was an unrelenting geyser of ideas equally sparkling and idiotic, a motivator, a notorious charmer of commissioners, and a terrible driver.

“He quickly became a great friend, which is more important than any of this stuff. I shall miss him terribly; his positive outlook, his designer cardigan, and his awful ‘Jewish’ jokes, which were really just recycled standard 1970’s jokes in which a Jewish bloke replaced the Scotsman or Welshman walking into a pub. I loved this man as did everyone around him. I am profoundly happy to have known him.”

George Clarke added: “I always called him Lord Daws ….and for good reason. He built the most beautiful ocean liner called HMS PLUM. The ultimate amazing space. We all travelled with him aboard his wonderful ship visiting some of the most magical places on earth. Whatever storms we faced on those journeys, Lord Daws always protected us, managing to navigate us to calmer, safer waters. We always laughed with him. We were always in awe of him. We always loved him.

“This week Will dropped us all off, safely at port. Always the pioneer, he decided to carry on alone to discover even more beautiful, unimagined spaces.

“And…Always thinking of others, we can all take comfort now, knowing that Lord Daws is making sure the passage ahead is safe, calm and unbelievably beautiful for us. And one day we can all join him on Lord Daws Island to laugh and smile once again. We’ll see you there Sir.”

Jimmy Mulville, managing director, Hat Trick Productions added: “Will was not only a great producer brimming with ideas, he also possessed a wonderful sense of mischief and adventure. He led Plum Pictures alongside Stuart Cabb with great charm, wit and kindness. We are going to miss him.”

Danny Cohen, President of Access Entertainment and former Director of BBC Television said: ‘Will was a remarkably accomplished producer and an even better human being. His loss will be felt very widely across the television community. Everyone’s thoughts are with his family.”

Paying tribute, actress Tracy Ann Oberman said: “I had the privilege of knowing Will both socially and professionally. I worked for him as a voice artist on documentaries and also had many a meeting developing ideas with him. I used to see him on the school run, so I saw him in all his many multifaceted roles. He genuinely was one of the greats – he lived life to the full – beautiful, talented, kind, ethical, proud of who he was. I cannot imagine the world without him in it. All my love to Shula and the children and to those of us who will really miss him.”

Claudia Rosencrantz, former Controller of Entertainment for ITV, said: “When Harpo Marx died his brother Groucho said that not a single person had anything but wonderful things to say about Harpo. Exactly the same goes for Will – because he was wonderful.”

Lucie Kon, Commissioning Editor, BBC Storyville, said: “Will was one in a million – a brilliant programme maker and leader in our industry. A warm, funny, sensitive and kind man who was I so lucky to be able to call a friend. TV will be a poorer place without him. I will miss him very much. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Shula and their children.”

Leo Pearlman, co-chief executive, Fulwell Entertainment said: “I want to be clear, Will and I were not lifelong friends. We didn’t grow up together, we didn’t work side by side for years, and we didn’t share endless conversations or hobbies. In truth, Will is someone I only came to know well over the past two years and it was tragedy that brought us together. The events of 7 October in Israel created a bond I never expected, and certainly never wanted to need. But within that painful context, I got to see, first-hand, the kind of man Will was and what I saw made me wish I’d known him my whole life.

“Since October 7th, as we all witnessed the growing attack on the Israeli creative industries: the boycotts, the shutting out of young Israeli artists, the chilling effect on the next generation, Will made it his mission to build bridges and offer opportunities to try to ensure that Israeli voices weren’t lost. He worked to ensure that stories were still being told, that talent was still being seen, that art continued to reach the world despite the pressure and hostility. Because the last thing Will ever was, was just a talker. He was a doer, a builder, someone who rolled up his sleeves and made things happen.

“When so many stayed silent after the October 7th massacre, when so many took the performative path they hoped would protect what they’d built, Will stood up. He spoke out and encouraged others to do the same. He put his community first, refused to be intimidated, not by antisemites, not by bad-faith actors, not by the tide of people who wanted to delegitimise the Jewish state. And he somehow managed to do all of this with humour, warmth, and a smile.”

Pnina Halfon Lang, executive director, CoPro Foundation, said: “Will was a talented producer and a true supporter of Israel and of Israeli film and television industry. He was among our honored guests at the recent CoPro Market events, and he will be greatly missed by us and by the television industry. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and wish them strength during this difficult time.”

Simon Chinn, the co-founder of documentaries producer Lightbox and a close family friend of Daws, added: “Will was the most luminous, funniest, most positive and brilliantly imaginative person I have had the privilege of knowing and calling my friend. He lit up every room he entered and was loved by everyone. His sudden loss is almost impossible to fathom and leaves a massive void. My heart goes out above all to his wife, Shula, and his lovely kids, Ethan and Noa.”

Neil Grant, executive producer, wrote: “A devastating tragedy to lose such an inspiring and popular colleague. His contribution, innovation and enthusiasm across factual TV was immense as well as advocacy for the TV community unstinting. He will be surely missed. He has also been a passionate advocate for his community, fighting and challenging anti -Jewish hatred post Oct 7 in all its guises.”

Ronit Knoble, Fantastic Films, said: “He is what was known as a ‘Super Mensch’ and the world feels darker without his joy and enthusiasm for absolutely everything. He will be so sadly missed by our special group of friends.”

Rabbi Yisroel Weisz of the Village Shul in Hampstead, the synagogue attended by Will and his family, said: “Will embodied the Jewish idea of choosing life. Every encounter with him was uplifting. He carried a natural vibrancy, a twinkle in his eye, and a steady positivity. He never allowed himself to get pulled into the distractions and pettiness that weigh people down. His time was spent on what mattered: uplift, beauty, depth and joy.

“Though his life was cut short at 57, he lived more fully and more consciously than many do in far longer years. He filled his days with purpose rather than noise.
“Thoughtful, empathetic, and wise, Will brought light into every interaction. He was a remarkable man and a truly elevated soul.”

In his early career, Will was both a stand-up comedian and an undercover war cameraman. He would later hit the catwalk at British Fashion Week with James May, be detained working undercover in Kenya, and succeeding in getting a choir of OAPs into the charts.

Will Daws leaves behind wife Shula, son Ethan, daughter Noa, mum Dilys and brothers Sam and Joe, together with an entire Plum Pictures family.