John Simpson: ten brushes with death, interviewing dictators and why he still loves the BBC
Description
He’s survived bombs, interviewed dictators, and come through ten near-death experiences — yet John Simpson has never stopped chasing the story.
In this episode, the BBC’s World Affairs Editor unpacks more than half a century of frontline reporting. From his unlikely break at the BBC in 1966 to revolutions, wars, and encounters with world leaders.
He recalls covering the Northern Ireland Troubles in the early 1970s, the fall of the Shah in 1979, and later wars in the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He recalls the chaos of Baghdad as the city fell in 2003, and the unforgettable flight that brought Ayatollah Khomeini back to Iran. Alongside the global events are personal costs — shrapnel wounds, hearing loss, and the toll of constant danger — and his belief that talking through trauma kept him going.
He also reveals:
- Why presenting the news nearly ended his career
- The shock of witnessing Saddam Hussein’s execution
- His enduring affection for Iran, even after being banned
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