- He was heavily criticised as producer of Doctor Who (1963), especially by Mary Whitehouse and her National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, for introducing more horror elements into the series and sanctioning more graphic depictions of violence and gore. Despite this criticism, the series enjoyed many of its highest viewing figures during this period, with 44 episodes winning more than 10 million viewers, making him by some measure the most successful producer of the series.
- His run as producer on Doctor Who (1963) is considered by many to be the high point of the entire series. In a poll for Doctor Who (1963) Magazine in 1998, four of the stories voted into the top five were from his time as producer. In fan site Outpost Gallifrey's 40th Anniversary Poll, five of the serials from his time were voted by fans into the top ten.
- He lays claim to creating the film series drama strand at the BBC with Target (1977), which he persuaded the BBC to make entirely on film.
- He was the winner of the 1990 Prix Europa Fiction Prize for And a Nightingale Sang (1989).
- He has a degree in English Literature.
- His daughter is the sports presenter Celina Hinchcliffe.
- He and Geoffrey Whitehead are married to sisters.
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