Charlie Courtauld: Inspirational journalist who revitalised Question Time then joined The Independent on Sunday

In a rare moment on last Thursday's Question Time, David Dimbleby paid tribute to a man who had never appeared on the programme and whose name was only ever in its credits, as its former editor. The editor's name was Charlie Courtauld, the television producer, editor and journalist. Dimbleby said of him: "He was clever, he was witty, he was very brave and he was an inspiration to work for. And I want to dedicate this edition of Question Time to his memory. I think he'd have enjoyed it."

Courtauld was Question Time's editor for only 18 months, from 1998-99, but during that time he revolutionised the format. He increased the panel from four to five and brought in figures from outside Westminster who were free to speak their minds without sticking to a party line. In doing so, he sought to widen debate beyond what had been a circle of MPs who, as he once said, "see each other every day in SW1 and know each other's arguments off by heart."

The changes were not at first universally welcomed. Courtauld had to defend the programme against what some saw as dumbing down, telling this newspaper at the time, "There is no way that we are going to turn this programme into the David Dimbleby chat show. I am not inviting celebrities just because I want to meet famous people."

But under Courtauld, Question Time was once again engaging, relevant and, above all, entertaining. Nick Pisani, who had been assistant editor and who followed him as editor, told me, "Much of the success of Question Time now is down to Charlie Courtauld." Courtauld returned briefly to the programme as the producer of a special 25 Years of Question Time edition in 2004.

His impact on the programme was a mark of his quick-wittedness and intelligence. Born in 1966 and educated at Eton and Bristol University, he had already proved himself on A Week in Politics from 1997 on Channel 4. On leaving Question Time he joined The Independent on Sunday as Comment Editor, a role he held until 2006.

Janet Street-Porter told me, "When I edited The Independent on Sunday in 1999, I asked Charlie to write leaders for me – he did far more than that, offering great analysis and guidance. He was pragmatic, practical and had an evil sense of humour." It was in his weekly columns for the paper that he first wrote of his multiple sclerosis.

Courtauld then took charge of Frost Over the World and its sequel, The Frost Interviews, presented by that redoubtable veteran of broadcasting Sir David Frost (Independent obituary, 1 September 2013). Launched in 2006 on Al Jazeera English, the programme had Prime Minister Tony Blair as its first guest. Courtauld admired Frost's "ability to put any interviewee at ease – from the most high and mighty to an ordinary person in the street. He found interest in anybody."

Courtauld's colleague at Al Jazeera English, Al Anstey, told me, "Charlie was a unique talent whose energy and intelligence translated into all the programmes he worked on during his time at AJE. His original, thoughtful, and inventive ideas – combined with an unfailing energy and insightful wit – elicited the best from the team he worked with and from the subjects of the shows. Alongside this brilliance was a mischievous energy and irreverence which resulted in some remarkable and engaging content, leaving Charlie's special signature on so much of his work."

Following the series of articles about his condition in The Independent on Sunday, he went online in a blog, "Dying for Beginners", starting in 2013, a mix of advice, dark humour and poignant observation. In the first of the series he noted, "Pain is just painful. Humiliation is just humiliating. Fear is just frightening. But what they aren't is boring. This dying thing is really quite interesting. Sad, but interesting. So don't call me wise. Don't call me brave. Just call me curious."

Courtauld is survived by his wife, Lucy, and his children, Daisy, Martha and Rory.

David Dimbleby: Charlie did everything at speed. He thought fast, spoke fast, wrote fast and read fast. He fizzed with new ideas and theories about everything from how politics should be conducted to how television programmes could be changed, improved or, better still, reinvented.

His impatience with anybody and anything that stood in his way could have been irritating, but was stimulating and enjoyable. He was funny and endearing, loved and admired by those who came into contact with him.

I first met him when he became editor of Question Time, responsible for introducing subtle but important changes in the programme. He brought in a fifth member to the traditional panel of four, which freed him to include maverick guests who would sit alongside and stimulate the politicians who were and are still the staple of the programme.

He took particular delight in writing the 20-second trails for each week's edition. They were witty, pertinent, full of verbal jokes and puns – and sometimes, it has to be said, verging on the incomprehensible. It was no great surprise when his restlessness led him after 18 months to decide that the job was done and he needed a new challenge. He left to join The Independent on Sunday.

By now he had become a close friend and although we barely worked together again I saw him often, affectionate and impetuous as ever. I once asked him what he had been doing in the previous week. He said, "I have written a novel. Nothing to it. You just sit at the keyboard and tap it out".

When he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 15 years ago he decided to write about it. He published more than 120 blogs and many articles. They were wry, sharp and sometimes sad comments on the progress of a disease which left him barely able to speak and only able to write at the computer using one finger.

He never asked for sympathy, let alone pity, but was brave and funny until the end, taking comfort in the love of his wife and children, who were always the centre of his life. Blog No 121, written by his wife to announce his death, was headed simply, "Goodbye Charlie". He would have liked that.

Charles Courtauld, television editor and journalist: born Colchester 18 June 1966; married 1994 Lucy Alexander (two daughters, one son); died Cambridge 26 January 2016.