Hutchings trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), and became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1968, where he played numerous classical roles in plays such as Julius Caesar, The Duchess of Malfi, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, Cymbeline, The Comedy of Errors, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The actor won his Olivier for his 1982 performance in Poppy, and received an Olivier nomination for Three Men and a Horse. He appeared in numerous stage productions, most recently The Shawshank Redemption in 2009.

He also appeared in numerous films, including Clockwise, Topsy-Turvy, and Wish You Were Here, as well as television programs such as Benidorm, EastEnders, Bad Girls, Our Friends In The North, and his final series, the sit-com Grandma's House, which will air this summer on BBC Two.