Frederick Forsyth reveals he once worked for MI6

The author made the revelation in his autobiography

(John Swannell)

Frederick Forsyth has written some of the greatest spy novels of our time, acclaimed for their authentic and accurate feel.

Fans often wondered just how he managed to write so brilliantly, and they now know why: because Forsyth once worked for MI6.

The Day of the Jackal author made the revelation in his autobiography The Outsider: My Life, saying he worked with British Intelligence for more than 20 years.

Talking to the Sunday Times, the 77 year-old said: "It is 55, 60 years later... where's the harm?"

He went on to reason how many of the ‘highly secret’ minutes had been published elsewhere and many of the issues from his time with MI6 were over, so there should be no problem in coming out.

Novelist Fredrick Forsyth (Getty Images)

Speaking to Sky News, he said he was now talking about his past as "it doesn't do any harm to mention various adventures that were had way back. We’re talking a long time ago."

He added how he didn’t have any James Bond-esque escapades, saying he “just ran a couple of errands".

"They would say Freddie, we've got this little problem could you see your way clear slipping into East Germany and pick something up. So the answer was 'oh, I suppose so'."

It was also revealed that his novels have to be vetted by MI6 before publication.

Forsyth’s books have sold more than 70 million copies world wide, his most famous publications including The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File and The Dogs of War.