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Frank Gardner

Sue Lawley's castaway is Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Security correspondent Frank Gardner.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Security Correspondent, Frank Gardner. For 10 years, he has been the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's expert on the Middle East - always authoritative and insightful, his analysis is based on first-hand knowledge of the region - after years spent studying Arabic and living and working in the Middle East.

But in June last year the reporter became the news. He and his cameraman were attacked by gunmen while they filmed in Saudi Arabia. His colleague was killed, he was shot six times and left for dead. Incredibly, he survived - though with devastating injuries. Now he is paraplegic - he has some feeling and movement in his legs above the knee but none below. He uses a wheelchair for most of the day though remains determined to walk some of the time using callipers and a walking frame. Nearly a year after the attack he returned to work - continuing to analyse the terrorist threat and trying to explain the circumstances behind it - he is, he says, busier than ever.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Third movement of Concerto No 2 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Book: A Passage to India by E.M Forster
Luxury: A solar-powered buggy

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 7 Oct 2005 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Γ‰mile Waldteufel

    Skaters' Waltz

    Orchestra: Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Alfred Walker

    • Famous Waltzes.
    • DDD.

  • Neil Gardner

    All Marcia - Concerto for Oboe & String Orchestra

    Soloist: Andrew Knights Orchestra: Members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Barry Wordsworth

    • Five Orchestral Pieces.
    • Powell Music.

  • All Saints

    Pure Shores

    • Pure Shores.
    • London.

  • John Barry

    The James Bond Theme

    • Best of Bond.
    • Capitol.

  • Fairuz

    Habbeytak

    • Immortal Songs: Fairuz.
    • Chahine.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Johann Sebastian Bach

      Concerto No. 2 - 3rd movement

      Orchestra: English Concert Conductor: Trevor Pinnock

      • Brandeburg Concertos.
      • Archiv.

  • Macy Gray

    I Try

    • Very Best of Macy Gray.
    • Epic.

  • Pedro Laza

    Cumbia del Monte

    • Cumbia Cumbia 2.
    • World Circuit.

  • Book Choice

    • A Passage to India - E.M Forster

  • Luxury Choice

    • A solar-powered buggy

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Frank Gardner

Broadcasts

  • Sun 2 Oct 2005 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 7 Oct 2005 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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