He wrote short stories and plays, appearing in the latter himself and gradually turned to writing and performing lyrics, revues and sketches for stage and on radio.

The Navy show was named Waterlogged Spa, with Barker and his wife, actress Pearl Hackney.

He found his niche in playing variations on the busybody sticking his nose in everyone's business, or as some authority figure, Carry On Constable (1960) being a good example.

In that same year (1964) he appeared in the ITC filmed series Danger Man, playing the titular character in "The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove".

[6] Barker married the actress Pearl Hackney[7] (28 October 1916 – 18 September 2009) with whom he often worked, though she also had a comedy career of her own.

Barker died in Canterbury, Kent, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Mary's, Stalisfield Green, near Faversham, where he had lived for a number of years.