Ian Banks was born in Liverpool in 1950 and graduated as a doctor in 1987, having worked as a television engineer, teacher and medical researcher before deciding to study medicine. He is contributing editor and resident doctor for Men's Health magazine, and a columnist on health issues for Doctor, Hospital Doctor, the Irish Medical Times, the Belfast Telegraph and Northern Woman. His frequent contributions to and broadcasts on television and radio include The Trouble with Men (BBC, 1996), The Pulse (Channel 4, 1995), The Good Sex Guide Late (Carlton, 1996) and Ask Dr Ian for BBC Radio Ulster. He is the author of The Trouble with Men (which accompanied the BBC series) and Get Fit with Brittas (BBC, 1997). He is a member of the Permanent Working Group of European Hospital Doctors. He represents all United Kingdom general practitioners for the British Medical Association as well as chairing the Men's Health Working Group; he also chairs the Men's Health Forum, in association with the Royal College of Nurses. Within this busy schedule, he continues to practise part-time as a casualty doctor and general practitioner.

Ian Banks lives in Northern Ireland with his wife and four children.