 Hirst was originally going to be an academic, but decided to become a screenwriter after Nicolas Roeg read one of his short stories and asked Hirst to write screenplays for him.Hirst was head writer, creator and executive producer of the Showtime television Drama Series "The Tudors" which aired from 2007 to 2010.It tells the story of King Henry VIII and his Six Wives as well as his court and the dilemmas throughout his kingdom during his reign.