Hepburn Harrison-Graham worked as a professional actor from 1979 to 1991, appearing in a variety of films and TV programmes, including Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Cry Freedom, The Firm and EastEnders. His stage work included a season at the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 1992 Hepburn began working for BBC radio sport as a junior broadcaster and progressed into becoming an assistant producer. During the formative years of BBC Radio 5 live Hepburn produced a wide range of sports shows including Hoops, an original programme about English basketball.  Sports America, an insight into American sport, and Sunday Sport.

During this period he also devised and produced a number of documentaries, most notably Across the White Line a four part series that charted the history of black footballers in England.