Born in 1944, Eric Saward worked initially as an estate agent. After a short period living in Holland, Saward returned to Britain and worked in various roles within the publishing industry, and as a sales assistant in a bookshop. From this he moved into teaching and while working as an English teacher had his radio drama script The Fall and Fall of David Moore accepted.
Giving up teaching in order to write full-time, Saward took various other jobs to supplement his income, including working in theatre.
Recommended to Doctor Who's script editor Christopher H. Bidmead because of the quality of his radio work, Saward was commissioned to write The Visitation for Peter Davison's first season as the Doctor. On the strength of this script, Saward was appointed Bidmead's successor as the programme's script editor.
Since leaving Doctor Who in 1986, Saward has continued to work as a freelance writer.