Sir Jonathan Miller trained as a doctor in the late 1950s and became well known in the early 60s for being part of Beyond The Fringe with Alan Bennett, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.

He began directing opera in the 1970s; he produced La Boheme at the ENO in 2009 In 2011, he directed La Traviata in Vancouver, Canada,. He was knighted for services to the arts in 2003.

He also writes and presents TV series, including Madness in 1991 and Atheism: A Rough History of Disbelief in 2004. He also produced/directed six of the BBC's Shakespeare series in the 80s.

In 2010 he was one of the signatories to the letter opposing the Pope's visit in the Guardian.