Turner was born in Roxburgh, the eldest of three children (the others being a brother, Linus, and a sister, Marcella), and grew up in the small seaside settlement of Karitane.

He became widely known as a presenter of popular programme Spot On, alongside Ian Taylor and Helen McGowan.

[1] On returning from the United Kingdom, Marcus resumed his television career, eventually moving to NHNZ to work as a researcher, director, and producer, and narrator of nature documentaries.

A gifted multi-instrumentalist, he was at home playing guitar, banjo, mandolin, or any of the more unusual folk instruments he collected from around the world.

He proved to be a versatile writer, able to turn his hand to both wryly tongue-in-cheek comedy songs and more introspective serious numbers.

[2] After his return to New Zealand, Turner became a founder member of folk group The Chaps,[4] alongside fellow Dunedin folk musicians Mike Moroney (formerly of The Pioneer Pog 'n' Scroggin Bush Band), Hyram Ballard and John Dodd.

[8] After returning from the United Kingdom, Marcus and Anne moved to Macandrew Bay, on the Otago Peninsula, ten minutes drive from Dunedin.