He was born in Birkenhead, and started on a career in business before joining a local repertory company and became a teacher at his old school before studying at Fitzwilliam House, Cambridge.
He returned to teaching and occasional work as an actor, before in 1936 being offered a post by the BBC as an announcer.
"[3] In 1946 he co-wrote a humorous book with Anthony Gilbert, Don’t Be Afreud!
He also chose the stage name of John Theobald Clarke, known as the actor and director Bryan Forbes.
[3] He played little part in the growth of television broadcasting in the 1950s, although he did share interviewing duties with Eamonn Andrews on the film review programme Current Release.