{{Short description|Journalist and author}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Use British English|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Paul Kenyon | image = Paulkenyon1.jpg | caption = Paul Kenyon reporting from the <br />2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine | alma_mater = Nottingham Trent University | occupation = Journalist, presenter, author | awards = Full list }}
'''Paul Kenyon''' (born 1966) is a BAFTA-winning journalist and author who has reported from more than 50 countries around the world, including multiple conflict zones, often for the BBC, and is the author of several books and podcasts.<ref name= "Kenyon2001">{{cite web |title=My first home: Paul Kenyon|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/advice/propertymarket/3296243/My-first-home-Paul-Kenyon.html |date=24 November 2001 |access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=PAUL KENYON MEDIA LIMITED |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09493949/officers |access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="KenyonBBC">{{cite web |title=Paul Kenyon |website=BBC |date=10 December 2008|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002ntm9 |access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="BBCPodcast">{{cite web |title=Two Nottingham Lads |website=BBC |date=17 December 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002ntm9 |access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref> He began his career on BBC Panorama.<ref>{{cite web |title=Panorama |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/the_team/newsid_7760000/7760897.stm |website=BBC News Panorama 'Meet the Team' |date=10 December 2008 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
== Early life == Kenyon grew up in Bury and Penn, Buckinghamshire. He was raised as a Unitarian, but his family would sometimes attend Quaker meeting houses.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bury Unitarian Church Calendar for July & August 2018 |url=https://www.bury-unitarian-church.org.uk/pdfs/JulyAug18.pdf |publisher=Bury Unitarian Church}}</ref> Kenyon attended the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe and then Bury Grammar School where he played 1st XV rugby and captained the athletics team.<ref>{{cite web |title=RGS High Wycombe Network |url=https://wycombiensian.rgshw.com/ |website=Royal Grammar School High Wycombe}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bury Grammar Boys |url=https://guidetoindependentschools.com/business-directory/bury-grammar-boys |website=Guide to Independent Schools |access-date=7 April 2022}}</ref> He studied social science at Nottingham Trent University.<ref>{{cite web | title=Paul Kenyon | Nottingham Trent University | url=https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/courses/our-students-stories/social-sciences/paul-kenyon }}</ref>
== Career == Kenyon was Parliamentary Research Assistant to Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes from 1987 to 1988.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kenyon Confronts |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/kenyon_confronts/1629961.stm |website=BBC News Programmes |date=7 November 2001 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> He then worked as a reporter at a succession of Independent Local Radio stations: Viking Radio in Hull, Red Rose in Preston, and Piccadilly in Manchester, before becoming a producer at BBC Greater London Radio. After a spell as a political reporter for the BBC at Millbank, Kenyon became BBC South's Political Correspondent in 1993, and their Home Affairs Correspondent in 1994. In 1996 Kenyon became a BBC News correspondent, and in 1997 was offered his own investigative series, this time on BBC 2, called "Raising the Roof".<ref name= "Kenyon2001"/> It continued for two series, until Kenyon was offered his own prime time series on BBC1 – "Kenyon Confronts" which ran from 2001 to 2003. The show used secret filming and dramatic confrontations to expose criminals. Kenyon famously stopped a sham wedding just as the couple were making their vows, and faked his own funeral in Haiti during an investigation into insurance fraud.<ref name= "Kenyon2001"/> left|thumb|340x340px|Paul Kenyon reporting on the 2009 migrant crisis Kenyon then moved to BBC Panorama where his work began to encompass human rights, international conflicts and, in particular, Africa. In 2009 he was named Specialist Journalist of the Year by the Royal Television Society for a series of Panorama programmes on the dangerous migration route out of sub-Saharan Africa into Europe. At the same time he attacked tabloid newspapers for their "willful misreporting" of migration issues.<ref name="KenyonBBC"/>
In 2005, Kenyon investigated drug cartels in Colombia for the BBC. While filming with the elite Jungla anti-narcotics unit of the Colombian police, the helicopter he was flying in came under fire from drug cartels near to Medellín, Kenyon and his crew escaped unhurt.<ref>{{cite web |title=The war on Colombia's cocaine industry |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_world/4338596.stm |website=BBC The Cocaine Jungle, October 2005 |date=18 October 2005 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> Also in 2005, Kenyon carried out a dangerous assignment for the BBC and American television's Frontline World, covertly filming Iran's secret nuclear facilities, managing to secure footage of the nuclear plant at Natanz and of a refining unit in Tehran before being intercepted by Iranian security services; accused of spying, Kenyon was later released after pressure from the British embassy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inspecting Iran's nuclear hideaway |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_world/4495101.stm |website=BBC This World, 5 May 2005 |date=5 May 2005 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
In 2011 Kenyon covered the war in Libya, confronting Colonel Gaddafi's son, Saadi, about the shooting of unarmed protestors, for which he won "Best Current Affairs Documentary – Middle East" from the Association of International Broadcasters. In 2012 Kenyon was awarded a BAFTA for a Panorama exposing the abuse of patients at a care home in Bristol; "Undercover Care: The Abuse Exposed."
In March 2014, Kenyon witnessed the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea, reporting for Panorama he was among a small group of journalists at the Belbeck Airbase in Sevastopol, Crimea as it was surrounded and taken over by Russian troops, and witnessing the first gunshots of the conflict.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC Panorama |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n3csvf6t |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Panorama: The Revolution That Shook the World |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3591242/ |publisher=IMDb}}</ref>
In February 2022 he reported from Kyiv during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Kenyon and his team were the first journalists on the ground at the now infamous Battle of Hostomel Airport on 24 February 2022, witnessing an intense gun battle as the airport became the scene of fierce fighting.<ref>{{cite web |title=Putin's War in Ukraine – BBC Panorama 28th February, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR8eFO-mlbw&t=5 |website=YouTube |access-date=7 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Putin's War in Ukraine |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0015ddh |website=BBC One: Panorama}}</ref> Kenyon also reported from the Battle of Mykolayiv in mid-March 2022 for both Panorama and the Sunday Express.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC Panorama: Ukraine's Resistance: Standing Up to Putin |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyt-Z46tZoY&t=164s |website=YouTube |access-date=7 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Russia-Ukraine conflict: Mykolaiv will 'die for the cause' |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1583386/russia-ukraine-war-mykolaiv-latest |publisher=Sunday Express |date=20 March 2022}}</ref>
In late 2025, Kenyon released a podcast called ''Two Nottingham Lads'', about pro-Russian British journalist Graham Phillips and Ukrainian fighter Aiden Aslin, both from the city of Nottingham.<ref name="PaulKenyon">{{cite news |last=Kenyon |first=Paul |date=4 January 2026 |title=How two Nottingham men ended up on opposite sides of the Russia-Ukraine war |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2152820/how-two-nottingham-men-ended-opposite-sides-of-russia-ukraine-war |access-date=17 January 2026}}</ref>
== Books ==
Kenyon's first book, "''I am Justice; a journey out of Africa''" was published in 2009. The BBC's Fergal Keane described it as "a beautiful book which carries the agony and hope of Africa in every page."<ref>{{cite web |title=A journey Out of Africa - by Paul Kenyon |url=https://www.africa-confidential.com/book-review/id/28/i-am-justice |publisher=Sunday Express |date=2009}}</ref> Kenyon was also a contributing author to the 2011 book "Investigative Journalism; Dead or Alive."
His second major work, "''Dictatorland: The Men Who Stole Africa''", was published in 2018, and was a Financial Times Book of the Year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Books of the Year 2018 |url=https://www.ft.com/content/648c1574-7a71-11e8-bc55-50daf11b720d |publisher=Financial Times}}</ref>
His third book, "''Children of the Night: the Strange and Epic Story of Modern Romania''", was published in 2021. It weaves the story of his wife's family in Romania into the country's broader history. Writing in The Critic, Jessica Douglas-Home described it as "an extraordinary book and in some ways a brilliant one."<ref>{{cite web |title=When in Romania... |url=https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/november-2021/when-in-romania-2/ |website=The Critic |date=30 October 2021 }}</ref>
== Personal life == Kenyon is married to Flavia Kenyon, whom he met in Bucharest in the mid-1990s.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Kenyon | first1=Paul | title=The truth about Andrew Tate: 'His home is less Hollywood hideaway, more rundown meat factory' | work=The Guardian | date=11 February 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2023/feb/11/the-truth-about-andrew-tate-his-home-is-less-hollywood-hideaway-more-rundown-meat-factory }}</ref> She is the first barrister of Romanian origin in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |title= ATS London 2023: Exploring the Intersection of Web3 and Law with Flavia Kenyon|url=https://www.exchangewire.com/blog/2023/06/07/ats-london-2023-exploring-the-intersection-of-web3-and-law-with-flavia-kenyon/ |date=7 June 2023 |access-date=8 January 2026}}</ref>
After making a programme which exposed the abuse of patients in Indian drug trials, Kenyon accepted an invitation to become patron of The Aware Foundation which helps educate underprivileged children in India, a role he shares with John Wright, the former coach of the India national cricket team.
==Awards== {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !'''Award body''' !'''Category''' !'''Film Title''' !References |- |2005 |Royal Television Society |Winner – Current Affairs programme of the Year |BBC Panorama: ''Exposed: The Bail Hostel Scandal'' |<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2011 |title=Television Journalism Awards 2006 |url=https://rts.org.uk/award/television-journalism-awards-2006 |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Royal Television Society |language=en}}</ref> |- |2009 |Royal Television Society |Winner – Specialist Journalist of the Year |BBC Panorama: ''Europe or Die Trying'' |<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=25 February 2010 |title=BBC wins seven RTS journalism awards |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/bbc-wins-seven-rts-journalism-awards/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2009 |BAFTA (Scotland) |Winner – Best News and Current Affairs programme |BBC Panorama: ''Britain’s Homecare Scandal'' |<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2009 |title=BBC investigation among winners at BAFTA Scotland ceremony |url=http://www.allmediascotland.com/press-news/17219/bbc-investigation-among-winners-at-bafta-scotland-ceremony/ |website=AllMediaScotland}}</ref> |- |2010 |Spanish Academy of Television |Winner – International Recognition Award |BBC Panorama: ''Chocolate: The Bitter Truth'' |<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 June 2011 |title=El reportero de la BBC Paul Kenyon, Reconocimiento Internacional 2010 de la Academia de Televisión |url=https://www.panoramaaudiovisual.com/2011/06/27/el-reportero-de-la-bbc-paul-kenyon-reconocimiento-internacional-2010-de-la-academia-de-television/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Audiovisual Overview |language=en}}</ref> |- |2011 |The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) |Winner – Current Affairs Documentary (Middle East) |BBC Panorama: ''Fighting Gaddafi'' |<ref>{{Cite web |title=AIB announces shortlist for 2011 International Media Awards {{!}} AIB |url=https://aib.org.uk/aib-announces-shortlist-for-2011-international-media-awards/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=aib.org.uk}}</ref> |- |2012 |Royal Television Society |Winner – Scoop of the Year Winner – Current Affairs- Home |BBC Panorama: ''Undercover Care: The Abuse Exposed'' |<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 November 2012 |title=Television Journalism Awards 2012 |url=https://rts.org.uk/award/television-journalism-awards-2012 |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Royal Television Society |language=en}}</ref> |- |2012 |The Broadcast Awards |Winner – Best Documentary |BBC Panorama: ''Undercover Care: The Abuse Exposed'' |<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=3 February 2012 |title=Broadcast Awards 2012: Winners in full |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a363715/broadcast-awards-2012-winners-in-full/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}</ref> |- |2012 |BAFTA |Winner – Best Documentary |BBC Panorama: ''Undercover Care: The Abuse Exposed'' |<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 May 2012 |title=BAFTA: Undercover Care: The Abuse Exposed (Panorama) – Current Affairs Winner |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I02_CGjtfeU |website=YouTube}}</ref> |}
==Bibliography==
===Books===
* ''I Am Justice: A Journey Out of Africa'' (Penguin Random House, 2009) * ''Dictatorland: The Men Who Stole Africa'' (Head of Zeus, 2018) * ''Children of the Night: The Strange and Epic Story of Modern Romania'' (Head of Zeus, 2021)
===Critical studies and reviews of Kenyon's work=== ; ;Dictatorland {{cite journal |author=Stanley, Aaron |date=Winter 2019 |title=Power trip |journal=Carnegie Reporter |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=89–90 |url=https://www.carnegie.org/publications/carnegie-reporter-vol-11number-1/ <!--|accessdate=2021-03-30-->}}
{{cite news |last1=Birrell |first1=Ian |title=Review: Dictatorland: The Men Who Stole Africa by Paul Kenyon |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/review-dictatorland-the-men-who-stole-africa-by-paul-kenyon-wbg8vhvwj |work=The Times |date=30 December 2017}}
{{cite news |last1=O'Loughlin |first1=Ed |title=Travels through Dictatorland: how African despots cling to power |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/travels-through-dictatorland-how-african-despots-cling-to-power-1.3380789 |publisher=The Irish Times |date=10 February 2018}}
; ;Children of the Night {{cite news |last1=Dunlop |first1=Tessa |title=It all started with Dracula |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/it-all-started-with-dracula |issue=14 August 2021 |publisher=The Spectator}}
{{cite web |last1=Vock |first1=Ido |title=Reviewed in short: New books by Bobby Duffy, Paul Kenyon, Carol Leonnig and Claire-Louise Bennett |date=9 September 2021 |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2021/09/reviewed-in-short-new-books-by-bobby-duffy-paul-kenyon-carol-leonnig-and-claire-louise-bennett |publisher=The New Statesman}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kenyon, Paul}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Nottingham Trent University Category:Mass media people from Buckinghamshire Category:Mass media people from Manchester Category:People educated at Bury Grammar School Category:People educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe Category:People from Bury, Greater Manchester