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Level up security understanding with Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent and terrorism expert. Frank equips organisations to navigate geopolitical threats and build resilience through firsthand conflict zone insights. OBE recipient for journalism, bestselling author, and survivor who returned to frontline reporting after surviving an Al Qaeda attack.

Trusted by Reed & Mackay, Pool Reinsurance, Dauntsey's School, DISA, Brewin Dolphin, Threadneedle Asset Management

Frank Gardner
Frank Gardner

Frank Gardner

London, United Kingdom

Typical fee range

£6–10k

This is an estimated fee range for local in-person events. Location and format affect the final fee.

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Frank Gardner

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London, United Kingdom

Starting from

£6–10k

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loading@getapeptalk.com

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+44 203 835 2929

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Frank Gardner's biography

At a glance

  • BBC security correspondent reporting from global conflict zones
  • Author of the Sunday Times bestseller, Blood and Sand
  • Terrorism expert who survived Al Qaeda attack

Frank Gardner OBE is the BBC's security correspondent and one of Britain's leading voices on international security, terrorism, and Middle Eastern affairs. A former investment banker turned frontline journalist, he combines deep regional knowledge with first-hand experience of global conflict. Frank joined the BBC in 1995, becoming Middle East Correspondent in Cairo before taking on his current role as security correspondent. He has reported from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay and covered global conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. In 2004, he survived a near-fatal Al Qaeda attack in Saudi Arabia that left him permanently paralysed from the waist down. He returned to frontline reporting the following year. Drawing on his harrowing experience in Saudi Arabia, Frank recounted his story in the bestselling memoir Blood and Sand. He went on to write his first spy thriller, Crisis, which became a Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller, while Far Horizons also earned acclaim for its vivid travel stories. Frank contributes regularly to the Economist, Sunday Times, and Daily Telegraph, and has been awarded an OBE for services to journalism. A natural storyteller and engaging host, Frank brings wit, charm, and insight to interviews, panel discussions, and live events, and has been recognised with the University of Southern California’s Tommy Trojan Trophy for distinguished speaking. He shares first-hand experiences from the frontlines of global conflict, combining personal anecdotes with a deep understanding of the Middle East, international security, and the art of survival. Book Frank for unique perspective, compelling storytelling, and a front-row perspective on international security, terrorism, and the Middle East.

Frank's showreel and videos

Why we recommend booking Frank

Book Frank Gardner to gain rare insights from a leading BBC Security Correspondent who blends gripping frontline stories with deep expertise in global security and the Middle East. Secure your event’s success by inviting a speaker whose wit, humanity, and real-world experience will captivate and inform your audience.

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Trusted by Reed & Mackay, Pool Reinsurance, Dauntsey's School, DISA, Brewin Dolphin, Threadneedle Asset Management

Testimonials

Frank was the perfect chairman for their event and his knowledge of security and terrorism was impressive. I really enjoyed listening to him speak... and his presence made the event.

Reed & Mackay

Frank provided a fascinating and unique insight into some of the geo-political and security challenges that we face. I would most strongly recommend Frank as a speaker for similar events to ours.

Julian Enoizi

CEO, Pool Reinsurance

Frank was a great public speaker: open, humorous and honest and his extensive knowledge... shone through all that he said.

Joanne Sagers

Dauntsey's School

Featured Projects

Blood and Sand
Crisis
Far Horizons

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book Frank Gardner for my next event?

To book Frank Gardner for your event, email frank.gardner@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you ASAP to confirm Frank Gardner's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.

What is Frank Gardner's speaking style like?

Frank Gardner draws on first-hand reporting from conflict zones and his own survival of a 2004 Al Qaeda attack in Saudi Arabia to ground his sessions in lived experience, weaving personal narrative with analysis of international security and Middle Eastern affairs.

What topics does Frank Gardner focus on?

Frank Gardner OBE speaks on international security, terrorism, Middle Eastern affairs, and geopolitical conflict. He is the BBC's security correspondent and author of the Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling memoir Blood and Sand, having survived a near-fatal Al Qaeda attack in Saudi Arabia in 2004 that left him permanently paralysed.

Does PepTalk charge a booking fee?

No, PepTalk doesn't charge a booking fee. You pay the speaker's fee plus any travel and expenses, which PepTalk confirms upfront in your quote. The shortlist, contracting and event-day logistics are included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.

What happens after I send a brief?

PepTalk sends a shortlist of matched speakers within 24 hours, each with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. The more you share about your date, audience, format, objectives and budget, the closer the match. Once you choose, PepTalk handles the contract, travel and logistics through to event day.

What does the typical fee range mean?

The typical fee range on a PepTalk speaker profile is a guide to what that speaker usually costs for an in-person event in their home market, shown in their local currency. The final fee depends on format, location, date and session length. Virtual and shorter sessions usually cost less, and international travel and peak dates cost more. PepTalk confirms the exact fee in your currency once it has your brief.

Have all the speakers on the website worked with PepTalk before?

No. PepTalk represents 15,000+ speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers, some booked directly and others through their agents and agencies worldwide. The process is the same for all of them: PepTalk checks availability, negotiates the fee and manages the contract and logistics.

How far in advance should I book a speaker?

Book a speaker three to six months before your event. Allow 12 months for large conferences, peak-season dates or a specific in-demand name. PepTalk also fills last-minute and replacement bookings, often within days, so get in touch as soon as you have a date, even at short notice.