Billington was born on 16 November 1939, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, and attended Warwick School, an independent boys' school in Warwick. … 展开

After leaving Oxford in 1961, Billington began working as an arts critic in Liverpool for the Liverpool Daily Post & Echo. From 1962 to 1964, he served as public liaison officer and director … 展开

Billington lives in Chiswick, London, with his wife, Jeanine Bradlaugh; the couple have one daughter. Billington is a supporter of the Labour Party. 展开

In fiction, Billington's name was introduced in Death of a Hollow Man by Caroline Graham, later adapted for the Midsomer Murders television mystery series, in which DCI Tom Barnaby coaxes deluded local director, and double murderer, Harold Winstanly into … 展开

Billington was made an honorary fellow of St Catherine's College, Oxford, in 2005 and was awarded an honorary doctorate by The University of Warwick in July 2009.
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for … 展开

Books by Billington
• The Modern Actor. London: Hamilton, 1973. ISBN 978-0-241-02094-4.
• How Tickled I Am: A Celebration of Ken Dodd. London: Elm Tree Books, 1977. ISBN 978-0-241-89345-6. 展开

• Michael Billington – Archives at The Guardian.
• Michael Billington – Critical Comment – Billington's own blog hosted by and featured in What's On Stage: Special Event Blogs, whatsonstage.com. Accessed 8 June 2008. 展开