Born in Keighley, Bradford, West Yorkshire. He attended Malsis School in Cross
Hills Ermysted's Grammar School at Skipton, later he attended Sedbergh School in Cumbria.
He has read English at St Peter's College, Oxford and graduated from
the Arts Institute at Bournemouth.
In 2009 he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Slumdog
Millionaire, also winning a Golden Globe and a BAFTA award.