Colin Dexter was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire. In 1950 he went to study at Christ's College, Cambridge. Before that he undertook his National Service with the Royal Corps of Signals. He received a classics degree in 1953, and an MA five years later. In 1954 he became assistant classics master at Wyggeston School, Leicester. An appointment at Loughborough Grammar followed, before he occupied the position of senior classics master at Corby Grammar, Northamptonshire, in 1959.
In 1966 started his association with Oxford, when he retired from teaching to take up a job at the Oxford Local Examinations Board. He is the creator of 'Inspector Morse'.