BBC NEWS | Programmes | Crossing Continents

Julian Pettifer started working in television during the early days of ITV but soon moved to the BBC as a globetrotting reporter for programmes such as Tonight, Twenty-four Hours and Panorama.

During this time he covered many international news stories and was made BAFTA Reporter of the Year for his coverage of the war in Vietnam in 1968.

He then moved to documentaries and wrote and presented a number of acclaimed programmes for both the BBC and ITV including:

Diamonds in the Sky - a look at the social impact of international air travel

Automania - an extensive history of the motor car

Missionaries - which traced the remarkable story of missionaries around the world.

The natural world

An interest in the environment saw a change in direction of Julian's journalistic career and in recent years he has written and presented many programmes concerned with the environment and wildlife including Naturewatch for Central Television and Nature and The Living Isles for the BBC.

He is vice-chairman of the British Wildlife Appeal and has served as president of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Most recently Julian has returned to the world of current affairs, contributing to BBC 2's Assignment and Correspondent series, making a highly praised film for Channel 4 that re-examined the reporting of the Vietnam war and presenting Asiafile for Radio 4.


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