John Simpson

John Cody Fidler-Simpson (born August 9, 1944), commonly known as John Simpson, is a British journalist who currently holds the role of World Affairs Editor for the BBC. He also presents the current affairs programme Simpson's World and is a columnist for the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

Related Topics:
August 9 - 1944 - British - Journalist - BBC - Current affairs - Simpson's World - Sunday Telegraph - Newspaper

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Born in London, Simpson read English at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he edited the magazine Granta. He joined BBC Radio as a trainee sub-editor in 1966 and has worked for the corporation in various roles ever since.

Related Topics:
London - Magdalene College, Cambridge - Granta - 1966

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He was promoted to the role of reporter in 1970. His autobiography recalls an occasion when he attempted to record a quote from Prime Minister Harold Wilson, who punched Simpson in the stomach for his impudence. He presented the BBC Nine O'Clock News for a short period in the 1980s, became the BBC's Diplomatic Editor, and was appointed World Affairs Editor in 1988.

Related Topics:
Reporter - 1970 - Prime Minister - Harold Wilson - BBC Nine O'Clock News - 1988

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He interviewed the King of Buganda Mutesa II a few hours before his death on November 21, 1969; he was present at the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing in 1989; and the fall of Nicolae Ceau?escu in Bucharest later that year. He spent the early part of the 1991 Gulf War in Baghdad before being expelled by the authorities.

Related Topics:
Buganda - Mutesa II - November 21 - 1969 - Tiananmen Square massacre - Beijing - 1989 - Nicolae Ceau?escu - Bucharest - 1991 Gulf War - Baghdad

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Simpson was one of the few journalists to remain in Belgrade during the Kosovo War of 1999. Two years later, he was one of the first journalists to enter Kabul after the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

Related Topics:
Belgrade - Kosovo War - 1999 - Kabul - 2001 - US-led invasion of Afghanistan

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While working as a non-embedded journalist in Northern Iraq in the 2003 Iraq war, he was injured in a friendly fire incident when an American anti-tank bomb was accidentally dropped on the American unit he was with.

Related Topics:
2003 Iraq war - Friendly fire

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Simpson has written several books, including the autobiographical trilogy:

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• Strange Places, Questionable People (1998)
• A Mad World, My Masters (2000)
• News From No Man's Land (2002).

The last book on Iraq War:

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• The Wars Against Saddam: Taking the Hard Road to Baghdad (2004)

The most recent autobiography:

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• Days from a Different World: A Memoir of Childhood (2005)

Simpson was awarded the CBE in 1991.

Related Topics:
CBE - 1991

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Simpson became the first chancellor of Roehampton University in 2005.

Related Topics:
Chancellor - Roehampton University - 2005

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John Simpson: See also ►