His first professional acting work was with a "Theatre in Education" company in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. He was then cast in Willy Russell plays; "Breezeblock Park" (at the Liverpool Playhouse) and "Blood Brothers" (at the Derby Playhouse). In 1985, Russell commissioned him to write the BBC Schools television play "Teaching Matthew". This is a satire on Russell's own "Educating Rita". Hunter often wrote himself parts in the scripts he produced. In "Teaching Mathew" he had a small role as a policeman.