Lyse Doucet

Lyse Doucet is the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, reporting on global events with a focus on Asia and the Middle East. As one of the channel’s senior presenters, Lyse anchors programmes from the studio and the field for BBC World and the World Service.

She began her journalism career after studying international relations in her native Canada. She initially worked in Africa before joining the BBC, where her first assignment took her back to Africa. She has since been posted to Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.

Renowned as one of the channel’s most knowledgeable and respected commentators, Lyse has an extensive understanding of the politics, culture, and commerce of the Middle East. She also offers insights into the broader geopolitical landscape.

Fluent in English and French, she is also conversational in Dari and Arabic.

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Type Of Speaker

Female Speakers Law, Crime & Security Media Politics Politics & Current Affairs Presenters Speaker

More About Lyse Doucet

In 1994 Lyse Doucet moved to Jordan, establishing the BBC’s office in Amman; she moved to Jerusalem the following year to deepen her expertise in Middle Eastern affairs. She has reported on every major conflict in the region since the mid-1990s, including the Syrian Civil War, and the Arab Spring, as well as other political events and natural disasters.

She reported from Kabul Airport in 2021, following the coalition to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, and in 2022 she contributed to the BBC’s overage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine alongside fellow Great British Speaker Clive Myrie.

Alongside her reporting, Lyse has presented a range of documentaries on Afghanistan, Gaza, and Syria. She also hosted the Radio 4 show Her Story Made History, where she interviewed influential but overlooked women in activism, journalism, and politics. Her guests have included peace activist Monica McWilliams, Iceland’s head of state Vidgis Finnbogadottir, Ugandan politician Betty Bigombe, and former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet.

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Other documentaries include:

– Children of Syria (2014): nominated for Best Single Documentary at the BAFTAs

– Children of the Gaza War (2015)

– Syria: The World’s War (2018)

Alongside her television work, Lyse is a founding member of the Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network; a trustee of the Frontline Club for journalists; a former Council Member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs; and a member of the Canadian Journalism Forum on Trauma and Violence.

She has been in volved with charities and organisations such as Friends of Aschiana UK, and is an honorary patron of Canadian Crossroads International.

In 2022, she contributed to My Pen Is the Wing of a Bird, a collection of fictional stories written by Afghan women develop by UNTOLD, a development programme for marginalised writers in areas of conflict. The collection went on to be named a Financial Times Fiction in Translation Book of the Year. In late 2025, Lyse’s own book was published; The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan looks at five decades of Afghanistan’s dramatic recent history, offering a deeply human look into the life of ordinary Afghans. In March 2026, it was announced The Finest Hotel in Kabul had made the longlist for the Women’s Prize for Fiction.

AWARDS AND HONORS

Lyse’s expertise has seen her receive many awards, accolades, and honours, including:

– Silver Sony Award for News Broadcaster of the Year (2003)

– International Television Personality of the Year by the Association for International Broadcasting (2007)

– News and Factual Award by Women in Film and Television (2007)

– Peabody (2010)

– David Bloom Award (2010)

– Best News Journalist at the Sony Radio Academy Awards (2010)

– Edward Murrow Award (2012)

– ITV Studios Achievement of the Year Award (2014)

– Sandford St Martin Trustees’ Award (2015)

– Bayeux-Calvados Award For War Correspondents (2015)

– Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting at the International Media Awards (2017)

– The Trailblazer Award from Georgetown’s University Institute for Women, Peace, and Security (2018)

– Mungo Park Medal by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society (2023)

She also holds honorary doctorates from the University of King’s College in Nova Scotia, University of Toronto, University of New Brunswick, Queen’s University in Kingston, University of York, University of St Andrews, Liverpool Hope University, University of Bedfordshire, University of Sussex, Cranfield University, Keele University, University of Exeter, University of Oxford, and the Université de Moncton.

CORPORATE

With a natural ability to communicate complex and emotive issues, and experience working in live settings, Lyse blends humanity with analysis and professionalism, focussing on significant political events and the impact they have on communities affected by conflict.

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