George Fenton, composer of “Gandhi” and “Blue Planet”, dies at 76
George Fenton, the prolific British composer whose work ranged from cinematic scores to BBC nature documentaries, died on 5 October 2026 at the age of 76.
Fenton’s career earned him five Oscar nominations, including for the scores of The Remains of the Day and Cry Freedom, and accolades from Bafta, Emmy and the Ivor Novello Awards for his television work.
He was the composer behind David Attenborough’s acclaimed “Earth Trilogy” – The Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet – creating music that helped bring the visual wonder of the ocean and polar ice caps to audiences worldwide.
In addition, Fenton wrote theme music for several BBC news programmes, including Newsnight, Breakfast Time and the flagship one‑o’clock news broadcasts. He collaborated with director Ken Loach on over twenty films, earning Cannes recognition and a Palme d’Or for The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
Fenton was a co‑founder of the Association of Professional Composers, later merged with the Ivors Academy, where he received fellowship honors alongside figures such as Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Elton John. In 2023 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to music.
His family said, “George passed away unexpectedly today. He is survived by wife Amanda, ex‑wife Jane, children Gemma, Grace and Bridget, and grandchildren Lola, Audrey, Alfred, George, Frank and Beatrice, and a life of music.”
Reflecting on his career, Fenton once remarked to a 2003 interview that “I love live audiences,” underscoring the joy he found in seeing his music performed.
