In any war, there is a concealment of certain kinds of setbacks because it's propaganda for the enemy.

I have nothing to do with the selection of stories. I'm the reporter.

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.

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

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