A barrister and one of the country's top television comedy script writers, Clive was called to the Bar in 1986. His practice has covered both criminal (defence and CPS) and civil law (medical negligence, property and insolvency). His career started in spectacular fashion, when he managed to get his first client off with a mere six month prison sentence. That was for a parking offence...though, to be fair, he had just parked on top of his social worker! Is it any wonder that Clive went on to write for shows such as 'Spitting Image', 'Clive Anderson Talks Back, 'Have I Got News For You', and 'Chambers' his hit BBC1 sit-com about barristers starring John Bird and Sarah Lancashire.

From 1990-99 Clive was also a Principal Lecturer in Law on the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law, where he helped to pioneer skills training for barristers. He has lectured and written on a wide range of legal subjects, including : advocacy, communication and the art of persuasion.

During this period Clive started to develop his writing career. In 1992, he won the prestigious BBC Radio Light Entertainment Contract Writers Award (previous winners include Angus Deayton and Rory McGrath). Clive regularly contributed to 'Weekending', 'The News Huddlines' and wrote the sit-com 'Hair in the Gate', starring Alistair McGowan.

Clive's television comedy credits include: 'Spitting Image', 'Smith and Jones' 'Clive Anderson Talks Back' and 'Have I Got News For You', though he is perhaps best known for 'Chambers' his hit BBC1 sit-com about barristers, starring John Bird, James Fleet and Sarah Lancashire.

In 1998 he won the BBC's inaugural 'Frank Muir Award', for outstanding comedy writing. His current writing commissions include a new sit-com for the BBC, and the feature film Dog Story for Samuelson Productions, directed by Martin Clunes. Clive also writes an occasional column for 'The Independent' in the guise of John Fuller-Carp, the character played by John Bird in 'Chambers'.