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.

Up until about 12 years ago we never, ever, wore flak jacket or helmets but now the nastiness has got worse.

My job is to get to the heart of a story, to find out what's really going on; to get it verified and, then, to get it out to as many people as possible as fast as.

I was sent to a nice Church of England girls' school and at that time, after university, a woman was expected to become a teacher, a nurse or a missionary - prior to marriage.

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 have never been attracted to any kind of violence.

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