He became a writer and production manager for a film company named Spectator which failed after two years, losing him his life savings. He was declared bankrupt in 1973, then returned to the BBC, first on local television in East Anglia and then on the network TV programme "Nationwide". In the 1970s, he worked as a presenter on BBC East's daily morning radio programme "Roundabout East Anglia", a regional opt-out from the "Today" programme on BBC Radio 4. He also appeared on local television as a presenter on BBC's early evening news programme "Look East".