After university, Ian trained at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and worked successfully as an actor. Inspired by the words of great writers such as Shakespeare, Coward and Rattigan, he ran a new-writing theatre company at The Young Vic Studio, writing and directing ten plays. He wrote a book based on this experience, <em>Special Talents, Special Needs</em>, which was translated into several languages. He went on to write for the Guardian, the Independent, the Wall Street Journal et al. People’s stories fascinate Ian and profiles are one of his greatest passions.