Alan James William Bell (born 14 November 1937) is a British television producer and director. He was born in Battersea, London. He has produced or directed many BBC series since the early 1970s, most notably Last of the Summer Wine, Ripping Yarns and the TV adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He was also assigned to re-edit and improve Ronnie Barker's short 1982 film, By the Sea. Other comedy shows include There's a Lot of it About, The Hello Goodbye Man, The Clairvoyant, Wyatt's Watchdogs, Dogfood Dan and the Carmarthen Cowboy and Split Ends.