Explaining the world of spies and spy agencies has been at the forefront of Richard’s work as an investigative journalist, author and Bafta-winning filmmaker for two decades.
As a world authority on the Five Eyes intelligence network which includes the spy services of the US, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, his analysis and findings have featured in international newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal, The Times, Guardian, and Washington Post, and on TV platforms, including the BBC, ITV and HBO.
Richard has built a reputation for uncovering the workings of spy agencies - from how they work to protect our national security, to how they at times violate our civil liberties and human rights. He unpicks and interrogates the narratives surrounding the accomplishments and failures of household names, including the CIA, FBI, MI6, MI5, and GCHQ.
His book, The Secret History of the Five Eyes, generated international headlines. His second book, The Defector, will be published in Britain in September 2025 and in North America in February 2026.
