CONFLICTED Paul Kenyon: 30 Years Under Fire as a BBC War Reporter
Jan 29, 2026
Paul Kenyon, seasoned BBC correspondent and investigative journalist with decades in conflict zones. He recounts being detained in Iran, entering Libya during the Arab Spring, witnessing Russia’s moves in Crimea and Ukraine, and reporting on ISIS recruits in the UK. Short, vivid stories of frontline moments and improbable personal threads across global crises.
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Two Nottingham Lads Cross Sides In War
- Paul discovered two men from Nottingham ended up on opposite sides in the Ukraine war, one fighting for Ukraine and one a Russian propagandist.
- He used that extraordinary coincidence to explore love, identity and how ordinary lives are pulled into distant conflicts.
Secret Filming At Iran's Nuclear Sites
- Paul secretly filmed Iranian nuclear sites like Natanz while under surveillance and then faced intense scrutiny from inspectors and authorities.
- He learned inspectors believed Iran's program was more advanced than publicly admitted and that secrecy and deceit were common.
Detained And Interrogated In Tehran Airport
- At Tehran airport Paul and his team were grabbed by security, interrogated and held in a hotel while authorities reviewed their footage.
- He recalls the surreal interrogation, loss of phones, and the warning from the British Embassy to avoid being moved to prison.