Catch up TV

Episode 13 October 2026

John Simpson looks back at his extraordinary 60-year career at the BBC - reporting on the biggest global stories of the era. In a frank, personal and revealing documentary, he reflects on the changing world he has witnessed: the revolution in Iran that seemed destined to fail, his brutal kidnapping in Beirut, the fall of the Berlin Wall, two wars in Iraq, the invasion of Afghanistan and a mind-altering trip up the Amazon.\n\nFrom the Broadcasting House newsroom in 1966 to World Affairs editor, he looks back at memorable encounters with inspiring leaders and cruel dictators - the figures who have shaped history, including Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, Saddam Hussein, Colonel Gaddafi and Volodymyr Zelensky. The programme also features his insights into the role of the BBC today and the challenges faced in the age of fake news.

Source: BBC 2