People always seem to assume that we have a full, back-up support team - make-up, costume and a driver - but usually, in a war zone, there's only me and the cameraman.

I never desired to go into war zones. I never had any thought about it. It sort of just happened as part of the job.

I was timid and frightened as a child. Yours truly did not shin up mountains or do any other kind of adventurous stuff.

Hair is also a problem. I remember once, when I was reporting from Beirut at the height of the civil war, someone wrote in to the BBC complaining about my appearance.

I don't want to be involved in endless media gossip.

War zones are dangerous, protests can be violent, also, natural disasters are difficult to cover, so there are going to be risks.

Having had loving people who brought me up, and then I find another set of people. That really is a double blessing.