Michael Napier-Brown began his career as a journalist in Bournemouth but after National Service became an actor, appearing in a number of television programmes in his career, which as well as Doctor Who included Ivanhoe, Secret Army, Dick Emery and Terry and June.

He was chief executive artistic director of Northampton's Theatre Royal for some 20 years until 1999 when it combined with the Derngate. He is also credited as the person who 'discovered' Gian Sammarco and Lindsey Stagg, the actor and actress who played Adrian and Pandora in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole.