The son of a theatrical agent, Towers was born in Wandsworth, and became a child actor after attending the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. He then became a prolific radio writer while serving in the Royal Air Force during World War II becoming head of the RAF radio unit on the British Forces Broadcasting Service attaining the rank of Pilot Officer.Mann, Dave Harry Alan Towers: The Transnational Career of a Cinematic Contrarian McFarland, 2014, p. 13
