Alex Sanjiv Pillai was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. He attended the National Film and Television School and worked on several short films during the late Eighties and early Nineties. Pillai was soon directing for television, including programmes such as Thief Takers, Touching Evil and Silent Witness. After the turn of the century, his credits encompassed the likes of Blue Murder, Being Human and Robin Hood. During the 2010s, Pillai began working on both sides of the Atlantic, making programmes such as Merlin and Midsomer Murders in the United Kingdom, and Bull and Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina in the United States. Amongst his projects during the Twenties were episodes of Walker, Bridgerton and DI Ray. For Doctor Who Pillai directed the 2024 Christmas special, Joy To The World, starring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor.