Is Elizabeth Rizzini Still Married? What Is Publicly Known About Her Husband and Frank Gardner
Elizabeth Rizzini is familiar to millions of viewers as a BBC weather presenter, yet public interest in her life often extends well beyond meteorology. One question appears repeatedly in online searches: Is Elizabeth Rizzini still married?
The most accurate answer is that there is no reliable public evidence showing that Elizabeth Rizzini is currently married. She referred publicly to having an Italian husband in 2016, but later media coverage described her as having been previously married. Since around 2019 or 2020, she has been publicly associated with BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner.
Rizzini and Gardner have repeatedly been described as partners or as being in a relationship—not as husband and wife. In a May 2024 interview, The Times reported that Gardner was four years into a relationship with Rizzini. The article did not describe them as married.
However, important details remain private. Rizzini has not publicly released a marriage certificate, divorce record, wedding announcement, or detailed statement explaining when her earlier marriage ended. Therefore, claims about the exact date of a divorce, the identity of her former husband, or a secret marriage to Gardner should not be presented as established facts.
| Field | Verified or publicly reported information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Elizabeth Rizzini |
| Profession | Weather presenter and broadcast meteorologist |
| Employer | BBC |
| Known for | Presenting BBC weather forecasts, particularly for London and regional broadcasts |
| Birthplace | London, England |
| Raised in | Croydon, South London |
| Education | Completed postgraduate study involving environmental journalism and climate change |
| Languages | Reported to speak Spanish and Italian fluently |
| Previous residence | Lived and studied in France and Spain; spent several years in Madrid |
| Children | Public profiles report that she has two daughters |
| Previous marriage | She publicly referred to an Italian husband in 2016; further details have not been officially disclosed |
| Current partner | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner |
| Current marital status | Not publicly confirmed; no reliable evidence that she is currently married |
Is Elizabeth Rizzini Still Married?
Based on publicly available evidence, Elizabeth Rizzini does not appear to be in her earlier marriage, but her precise legal marital status has not been formally confirmed by Rizzini herself.
The strongest evidence of her previous marriage comes from a social-media exchange reported by British newspapers. In May 2016, Rizzini reportedly stated that her husband was Italian. Later profiles referred to her as previously married, but the name of that man and the circumstances surrounding the end of the relationship have not been disclosed in reliable public sources.
This distinction matters. Saying that someone was previously married is not the same as possessing verified legal documentation showing when or how the marriage ended. Public reporting strongly suggests that Rizzini’s former husband is no longer her current partner, but responsible coverage should avoid inventing a divorce date or naming an unidentified individual.
As of the latest substantial mainstream reporting located for this article, Rizzini is publicly known as Frank Gardner’s partner. She has not been reliably described as Gardner’s wife.
Is Elizabeth Rizzini Married to Frank Gardner?
No verified source confirms that Elizabeth Rizzini and Frank Gardner are married.
They have been in a publicly acknowledged relationship for several years, but credible reports consistently use terms such as partner, girlfriend, or relationship rather than husband and wife.
In May 2024, The Times published a detailed profile of Gardner and reported that he was four years into a relationship with Rizzini. That wording indicates that their relationship was continuing at the time of publication, but it provides no evidence of a marriage.
Rizzini has also referred publicly to Gardner as her partner. A professional speaker profile describes her as having appeared in the documentary Being Frank, which focused on Gardner’s life and experiences. The same profile identifies Gardner as her partner rather than her husband.
Some celebrity websites use misleading headlines such as “Elizabeth Rizzini’s husband” or ask whether she is “still married to Frank Gardner.” The wording creates confusion because no credible evidence shows that Gardner and Rizzini ever married.
Who Is Frank Gardner?
Frank Gardner is a British journalist, author and BBC security correspondent. He has specialised in terrorism, international security and events in the Middle East.
Gardner joined the BBC in the 1990s and worked as its Gulf correspondent and Middle East correspondent before becoming security correspondent. He is also the author of nonfiction books and a series of espionage novels.
In June 2004, Gardner was attacked by al-Qaeda gunmen while reporting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He was shot multiple times and left partially paralysed. His cameraman, Simon Cumbers, was killed in the attack. Gardner later returned to journalism and continued reporting for the BBC.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to journalism and has received several professional honours.
Gardner was previously married to Amanda Pearson. Credible biographical reporting states that they married in 1997, had two daughters and later separated. A 2024 profile described Amanda as no longer being his wife and said their marriage had developed into a friendship after approximately two decades. The same article identified Rizzini as his partner.
How Did Elizabeth Rizzini and Frank Gardner Meet?
Public reports say that Elizabeth Rizzini and Frank Gardner met while working at the BBC, apparently during an encounter in a lift.
The story became widely known after Gardner discussed the relationship in connection with the 2020 BBC documentary Being Frank. Media coverage at the time identified Rizzini as his new partner after his separation from Amanda Pearson.
Rizzini promoted the documentary publicly, describing it as a powerful and uplifting programme about resilience and the less visible aspects of disability. Her post included a photograph of herself with Gardner and referred to him as the star of the documentary.
Reports differ slightly over the exact year their relationship began. Some say 2019, while Gardner’s May 2024 statement that he was four years into the relationship would place its beginning around 2020. These dates are close, but neither should be treated as an officially confirmed anniversary.
The safest conclusion is that they became a couple around 2019 or 2020 and had remained together for several years by 2024.
Who Was Elizabeth Rizzini’s Former Husband?
Elizabeth Rizzini’s former husband has not been publicly identified through a reliable first-hand source.
The limited confirmed information is that Rizzini reportedly referred to her husband as Italian in a 2016 social-media conversation. British entertainment coverage later repeated that statement and described her as previously married.
Some websites claim to know his name, profession, age or family background, but these details generally cannot be traced to Rizzini, an official record or a reputable interview. They should therefore be treated as speculation.
It is reasonable to protect the privacy of a person who is not a public figure. Rizzini’s former spouse has not built a public media profile, and there is no legitimate reason to fill gaps in the public record with guesses.
No reliable source located for this article provides:
- His full name
- His occupation
- The date of their wedding
- The date their relationship ended
- A confirmed divorce date
- The circumstances of their separation
These details remain private or publicly unconfirmed.
Does Elizabeth Rizzini Have Children?
Public professional profiles report that Elizabeth Rizzini has two daughters.
One television-industry profile states that she has two daughters and has shared her home with cats and guinea pigs. The same profile records her relationship with Frank Gardner and her appearance in Being Frank.
Rizzini’s social-media biography also identifies her as a mother, although she generally avoids sharing extensive personal information about her children.
Some entertainment reports claim that her younger daughter was born in 2014, but detailed information about the children—including their names, education and father—has not been consistently confirmed through high-quality sources.
Because her daughters are not public figures, responsible reporting should not attempt to identify them or expose private details about their lives.
Gardner also has two daughters from his previous marriage. This does not mean that the couple have children together. There is no reliable public evidence that Rizzini and Gardner share a biological child.
Elizabeth Rizzini’s BBC Career
Elizabeth Rizzini is a BBC weather presenter with a background that combines broadcasting, environmental journalism and an international education.
A professional biography says she was born in London and raised in Croydon. She later lived and studied in France and Spain, including several years in Madrid. After returning to the United Kingdom, she completed a master’s degree involving environmental journalism and climate change.
Her first experience in broadcast meteorology was reportedly unusual: she compiled and presented a bilingual report about jellyfish conditions for Spanish coastal resorts. The assignment combined weather information, communication and her language skills.
Rizzini is reported to speak Spanish and Italian fluently. Her international background helps distinguish her from presenters whose careers followed a more conventional route through British meteorological institutions.
She is best known for presenting forecasts for BBC London and appearing across BBC television services. Professional profiles also credit her with producing or presenting material for programmes including CBBC’s Newsround and Antiques Roadshow.
These appearances show that her work has extended beyond standing in front of a weather map. Broadcast weather presenters must interpret technical information, explain uncertainty and communicate quickly to a broad audience.
Celebrity Mastermind and Charity Work
Rizzini gained additional attention when she appeared on Celebrity Mastermind.
Her episode aired in January 2025, and her specialist subject was reported to be Canadian singer Céline Dion. She won her edition of the programme and used the appearance to support Hospice in the Weald.
The charity said Rizzini’s support had a personal connection. Her cousin Jo had received care from the hospice before her death in 2021. Rizzini’s participation helped raise funds and awareness for the organisation’s work with patients and families.
This is one of the better-documented aspects of her life outside weather broadcasting. It also illustrates why her public profile has grown: viewers increasingly recognise her not only from forecasts but also from documentaries, quiz programmes and charitable activities.
Why People Search for Her Marriage
Interest in the search phrase “is Elizabeth Rizzini still married” comes from several overlapping sources.
First, Rizzini once publicly referred to having a husband. People who remember that statement may naturally wonder whether the marriage continues.
Second, she later appeared publicly with Frank Gardner, a well-known BBC journalist. Since the pair have been together for several years, some readers assume they must have married.
Third, search engines often combine related phrases such as “Elizabeth Rizzini husband,” “Frank Gardner wife” and “Elizabeth Rizzini married.” Low-quality biography websites then repeat these phrases as though they represent established facts.
Finally, Gardner’s own marital history causes additional confusion. He was married to Amanda Pearson, while Rizzini was reportedly married to an unidentified Italian man. Articles that fail to explain the two separate histories can create the false impression that one of them was married to the other during the same period.
The verified sequence is simpler:
Rizzini previously referred to an Italian husband. Gardner was previously married to Amanda Pearson. Gardner and Rizzini later entered a relationship with each other. There is no confirmed evidence that Gardner and Rizzini have married.
Verified Facts Versus Rumours
Several facts are supported by credible reporting.
Rizzini is a BBC weather presenter. She previously referred publicly to an Italian husband. She has two daughters according to professional profiles. She has been in a long-term relationship with Frank Gardner. Gardner publicly described the relationship as ongoing in 2024.
Other claims remain unverified.
There is no publicly confirmed name for Rizzini’s former husband. No reliable divorce date has been published. No verified wedding between Rizzini and Gardner has been announced. No credible evidence shows that the couple secretly married. Their precise living arrangements are also private.
Claims about Rizzini’s exact birth date, salary, personal wealth or former husband’s identity frequently appear on biography websites without adequate sourcing. Such claims should not be repeated as facts merely because several websites copy the same information.
Repetition is not verification.
Are Elizabeth Rizzini and Frank Gardner Still Together?
The latest strong evidence located for this article indicates that they were still together in May 2024.
In his interview with The Times, Gardner described himself as four years into a relationship with Rizzini. The profile discussed their shared life and referred to a cat in their household.
Public professional profiles and Rizzini’s media appearances have continued to associate them as partners. However, they maintain a relatively private relationship and do not provide frequent personal updates.
There has been no credible public announcement of a breakup. At the same time, relationship status can change, so it is better to rely on dated, attributable reporting than to make an absolute claim based on silence.
The most careful formulation is: Elizabeth Rizzini and Frank Gardner were publicly reported to be in an ongoing relationship in 2024, and no reliable later announcement contradicting that report has been identified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elizabeth Rizzini still married?
Her exact legal marital status is not publicly confirmed. She referred to an Italian husband in 2016, but later reports described her as previously married. She is publicly known as Frank Gardner’s partner.
Is Elizabeth Rizzini married to Frank Gardner?
There is no reliable evidence that Elizabeth Rizzini and Frank Gardner are married. Credible sources describe them as partners or as being in a relationship.
Who is Elizabeth Rizzini’s husband?
Rizzini reportedly said in 2016 that her husband was Italian. His identity has not been reliably confirmed, and current reporting does not describe him as her present partner.
Who is Elizabeth Rizzini’s current partner?
Her publicly known partner is BBC security correspondent and author Frank Gardner.
Does Elizabeth Rizzini have children?
Professional profiles report that she has two daughters. She keeps their identities and personal lives largely private.
Was Frank Gardner previously married?
Yes. Gardner was previously married to Amanda Pearson, with whom he has two daughters. Reliable reporting says the marriage later ended.
How did Elizabeth Rizzini meet Frank Gardner?
Media reports say they met while working at the BBC, reportedly during an encounter in a lift. Their relationship became publicly known around 2020.
Conclusion
So, is Elizabeth Rizzini still married? The available evidence does not support describing her as currently married.
Rizzini previously referred to having an Italian husband, but the identity of that person and the legal details surrounding the apparent end of the marriage have never been fully disclosed. She has since maintained a long-term relationship with BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner.
Despite frequent online confusion, Rizzini and Gardner have not publicly confirmed a marriage. Reliable reporting identifies them as partners, and a 2024 interview described their relationship as ongoing.
Until either person announces otherwise, the most accurate conclusion is that Elizabeth Rizzini is Frank Gardner’s partner, not his publicly confirmed wife, while her formal legal marital status remains private.
