Derek rose to fame as a presenter of the legendary BBC children's show Play School in the 1970s. He was raised in London, the actor and musician and went on to perform in both theatre, film, TV and radio.

His West End credits include: Sing a Rude Song, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Black Mikado, The Travelling Music Show, The Secret Life of Cartoons, Run for your Wife, Dry Rot, Aladdin, Snow White, Babes in the Wood, Miss Saigon, Beauty and the Beast, Noises Off, Twelth Night, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Exonerated. He recently appeared in The Mousetrap at the St Martin's Theatre, Exit the King at the National Theatre and on tour in Driving Miss Daisy.

Television appearances include: Unforgotten, Midsomer Murders, Small Axe, Casualty, Holby City, Doctors, The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff, Silent Witness and Coronation Street.

Regarding composing work, Derek wrote all the music for Heads and Tales, Bod, Two by Two, Mythical Magical Creatures as well as many TV jingles. He wrote the music and lyrics for a production of The Three Musketeers at the Royal Exchange.

In 2014, he was awarded a gold award for his music in TV from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. His voice can be heard on many cartoon and TV adverts.

At the time of recording this podcast, Derek was appearing in The Third Man at the Menier Chocolate Factory.