A graduate of the University of Wales Lampeter (BA English Honours), he joined the BBC as a general trainee in 1967.
His many film credits as a director include the award-winning Channel 4 series Tom Keating on Painters, Circle Within the Square (which won a prize at the Mesa Festival, Florida) and The Original Three Tenors, a documentary about Caruso, Gigli and Björling presented by Nigel Douglas.
His stage credits include Waltzing in the Clouds (Covent Garden Festival) and A Dog's Life, a one-man show with John Leeson ('the voice of K9’), plus the operas The Yeomen of the Guard (for Opera Holland Park), Faust, The Merry Wives of Windsor and Verbum Nobile by Moniuszko.
He wrote the librettos for Survival Song (nominated for an Olivier Award) and Biko, both with music by Priti Paintal.
He is the author of nine books including a history of Welsh National Opera, Notes From a Low Singer (the autobiography of operatic bass Michael Langdon which he ghosted), The Classical Music Map of Britain and Opera on Film.