John Simpson

John Cody Fidler-Simpson was born on August 9, 1944, in Cleveleys, Lancashire, England. He was raised by his single mother following his father’s execution in 1933 and later by his mother and stepfather. He pursued an education as a car mechanic and served in the Navy before enrolling at the Soviet State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow from 1954-1960. He made his acting debut in “Quiet Flows the Don” (1957) and also published his first short stories in 1958 during the “Thaw” period.

Simpson’s career has been marked by significant journalistic achievements. He became a BBC reporter in 1970, and by 1980, he was promoted to the BBC’s political editor, a role he held until 1981. He then presented the “Nine O’Clock News” from 1981-1982 before becoming diplomatic editor in 1982. In 1988, he assumed the role of BBC World Affairs Editor, a position he continues to hold. Throughout his extensive career, Simpson has reported from numerous global events, including the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, and the fall of the Ceauşescu regime in Bucharest. He covered the 1991 Gulf War from Baghdad and reported on the Kosovo War in 1999 from Belgrade.

In 2001, Simpson was among the first reporters to enter Afghanistan following the US-led invasion, famously using a burqa as a disguise. In 2003, during the Iraq War, he was injured in a friendly fire incident in Northern Iraq, which tragically resulted in the death of a crew member. He has also interviewed many world leaders and notable figures, including his interview with Pim Fortuyn in 2002, just days before his assassination. His contributions to journalism have been widely recognized, including a CBE in 1991, an International Emmy for his report on the fall of Kabul, and multiple BAFTAs.