Background
Serpell was born in Leeds, England, in 1910. His father was senior master of Leeds Grammar School.
Serpell was born in Leeds, England, in 1910. His father was senior master of Leeds Grammar School.
Serpell began his career as a reporter for the Yorkshire Post. In the 1930s he began working for The Times in London. During World World War II, he served in naval intelligence under Ian Fleming.
He subsequently joined the British Broadcasting Corporation as its Rome correspondent, then Washington correspondent from 1953, and finally diplomatic correspondent, until retirement in 1975.
He appeared as a "castaway" on the British Broadcasting Corporation Radio programme Desert Island Discs on 31 March 1973. He died in 1991 at his home in Barnes, South London.