[2] As a child he appeared in the Radio Luxembourg children's show The Ovaltinies, and wrote an article for Good Housekeeping magazine at the age of 14.
[3] He was conscripted to work in the coal mines as a "Bevin Boy" during the Second World War, but was transferred to the Army Pay Corps due to ill-health.
[3] In 1952 he was invited to write comic strips for the Eagle, including the schoolboy series "The Three J's", illustrated by artist Peter Kay (1953–59), which was adapted for television in 1958.
[3][4] In 1955 he joined Associated-Rediffusion as script editor, working on shows including Murder Bag, Crime Sheet and Jango, and was later appointed Head of Children's Series.
Ling wrote for Dixon of Dock Green, Sexton Blake, No Hiding Place, Doctor Who (The Mind Robber in 1968), and, with Sheilah Ward, The Avengers ("Ashes of Roses", "Dance with Death", and "Box of Tricks").