He was born in Southport, Lancashire the son of Samuel, a wine merchant, and Belinda Mary Falk (née Kennedy), and was educated at Liverpool College.
He began his career in print journalism with the Birkenhead News and played Liverpool's Cavern Club in the evenings as a member of a beat group called 'Tony Snow and his Blizzards', later renamed 'The Bohemians'.
He quickly graduated to Scotland Today Report, a weekly current affairs programme - filmed mostly within STV's region - on the issues of the day.
He later moved to London to join BBC current affairs, appearing in programmes including 24 Hours.
In 1971 Falk was imprisoned for four days in Belfast's Crumlin Road jail for contempt of court.