Pip Burley was born in South London and went to Whitgift School. Although he studied science and maths at school and was set to attend Bristol University to study engineering, he had a late change of heart, embarking instead upon a career spanning music, the theatre, marketing, advertising, publishing and broadcasting. He has founded three companies including most recently Excelsior, best known for its hit television dramas The Darling Buds Of May and A Touch Of Frost starring David Jason and Catherine Zeta-Jones, My Uncle Silas with Albert Finney and Pride of Africa starring Robert Powell.

As writer, director and producer he has been active in the theatre, particularly as Festival Director for the National Trust at Polesden Lacey, and has produced at the Edinburgh Festival. He has written and directed four plays as well as the much-performed stage adaptation of The Slipper and the Rose which has been performed all over the world. He is also the author of two books - Views from the Back of a Taxi and Briefest Encounters - and has recorded two albums of solo piano under the title The Golden Age of Song.

Pip has been on the Crew of Variety Club Children’s Charity since 1995 and was Chief Barker for the charity’s 50th Anniversary year. He is married with three daughters and six grandchildren.