Desert Island Discs - Why Lyse Doucet doesn't want to be called a war reporter

Download Why Lyse Doucet doesn't want to be called a war reporter

The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.

She has reported from many war-torn countries, including Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, but says she doesn't want to be defined by war. Instead, she is interested in the human cost of conflict. When she arrives in a place, she embeds herself in the lives of the local people; discovering what she calls the “heat and dust” of a society helps her to tell their stories.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Published on Wednesday, 14th October 2026.

Available Podcasts from Desert Island Discs

Subscribe to Desert Island Discs

We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the Desert Island Discs webpage.