Initially an experienced theatre director in Hungary, Hirsch fled to England to seek refuge following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
After completing the BBC's directors course, his first assignment was directing a 1964 edition of TV anthology series First Night.
This was seen by producer Verity Lambert, who in turn offered Hirsch the opportunity to direct Doctor Who Season 1 finale The Reign of Terror[2] (after the intended director Gerald Blake was unable to commit).
This led to Hirsch falling ill and being found collapsed from nervous exhaustion outside the studio before episode 3 was due to be filmed.
[7] Working as an assistant to theatre director Frank Hauser,[8] Hirsch helped to translate Ferenc Molnár's comedy The Wolf into English.