Author and broadcaster
He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1985 (1984 season) for Outstanding Achievement in Musical for the Conception of The Ra Iolanthe.
Was nominated for Broadways 1977 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Musical) for "Side by Side by Sondheim".
He got his big break in commercial TV, but made his name with the BBC. He was the man behind "That Was the Week That Was", the ground-breaking TV program that satirized politicians and topical events.
He was born to a farming family in Somerset. He studied law at Oxford, and there became involved in the theatre. He trained as a barrister and was called to the bar in 1955. His legal career was abandoned when a friend offered him a job as a producer at Associated Television.
He was an actor, author, humorist, impresario, playwright, presenter, producer, and raconteur.
He was awarded the CBE in the 1997 New Years Honours List for his services to drama.
In a long career of happy accidents, perhaps the most useful was to have,been born in 1931 and to complete National Service, Oxford, and bar,exams precisely in time for the opening of commercial television. (from,his autobiography).
