By 1967 he was a lecturer in early music in the University of Leicester having married Gillian Veronica Reid the previous year.[3] With Christopher Hogwood he formed the Early Music Consort, each of whose core members was an expert in their particular instruments. Sometimes other professional musicians were employed when necessary, such as Nigel North and Robert Spencer, both highly regarded lutenists. From 1968, he toured the world, unearthing obscure instruments in every country he visited. He commissioned reconstructions of instruments related to the cornett and rackett from, amongst others, Otto Steinkopf. Two television programmes made him a household name: The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970) and Elizabeth R (1971).