As Richard Gordon, Ostlere wrote numerous novels, screenplays for film and television and accounts of popular history, mostly dealing with the practice of medicine.

He was best known for a long series of comic novels on a medical theme beginning with Doctor in the House, and the subsequent film, television, radio and stage adaptations.

The early Doctor novels, set in the fictitious St. Swithin's, a teaching hospital in London, were witty and apparently autobiographical; later books included more sexual innuendo and farce.

Gordon also contributed articles to Punch magazine, and published books on medicine, gardening, fishing and cricket.

[6] In 1974, he walked off the set of This is Your Life when Eamonn Andrews appeared with the red book.