Alex Gerlis was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. He graduated from Hull University with a degree in Law and Politics and after a variety of jobs in political research and journalism joined the BBC in 1984 on a three month contract and ending up staying for over twenty seven years. His BBC career began as a researcher on Panorama and he then worked as a Producer on a number of programmes, including The Money Programme. In 1990 he became an Assistant Editor on Breakfast News, covering major stories such as the first Gulf War and the fall of Margaret Thatcher.