John Simpson
BBC World Affairs editor, broadcaster, author, columnist.
Profile
For over 40 years, John Simpson CBE has been part of the BBC, and in his capacity as World Affairs Editor, he is the head of the London-based team of foreign and special correspondents for the corporation.
Having reported from 41 active war zones and over 125 countries, Simpson has earned his reputation as one of the most authoritative and experienced journalists in the world, and continues to provide exemplary journalism for the BBC.
Drawing on his extensive international journalism experience, Simpson regularly captivates audiences as a public, after dinner and keynote speaker, and speaks on a range of topics.
Previous experience
Editor: Simpson’s career began in 1966, when he was a trainee sub-editor in radio news with the BBC. Since then, he has interviewed some of the most controversial and famous world leaders and politicians on the planet, and his career has gone from strength to strength.
Awards: He was presented with his CBE in 1991, and was named the Royal Television Society’s Journalist of the Year that same year and again in 2000. In July 2010, he was presented with Italy’s most prestigious media award, the International Ischia Journalism Prize.
On top of this, he has been received a number of other awards during his career, including academic honours. This included an honorary fellowship from Magdalene College in 1999, as well as an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Leeds. In 2005, he was made Chancellor of Roehampton University.
