Frank Gardner OBE

Frank Gardner has been the BBC’s full-time Security Correspondent since 2002, reporting on the world’s major security issues from the Middle East to Ukraine, Colombia and the Arctic as well as Counter Terrorism in the UK.

In 2004 he was shot six times at close range by Al-Qaida terrorists while on assignment in Saudi Arabia. He survived, partly paralysed in the legs, and returned to work after 14 surgical operations.

Before joining the BBC he worked in New York, Bahrain and London in investment banking, where he was Director of Middle East business for Robert Fleming. While at BBC he served on the Board of Motability Operations for nine years as a Non-Exec Director.

He is the author of five bestselling books, including his autobiography ‘Blood & Sand’. Frank’s latest spy thriller, Invasion, was published in paperback in 2025. His next thriller, Ballistic, will be published in July 2026 .

Frank holds a degree in Arabic & Islamic Studies from Exeter University. He was awarded an OBE for services to journalism by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005, an Honorary Doctorate from St. Andrews University this year and voted Person of the Year by the UK Press Gazette.