Step by Step – Simon Reeve

In this autobiography, Simon Reeve tells how from an unpromising start in life he became the maker of interesting and inspiring travel documentaries.

Born in west London to working class parents, itemising his journey would spoil the read so suffice it to list some milestones: dropping out of school; teenage depression exacerbated by alcohol and drugs; unemployment; key advice from a DSS clerk; a lightbulb moment in Glencoe; an unlikely opportunity to work at The Sunday Times; the bombing of the World Trade Centre in 1993 and the attack on the twin towers six years later; a call from Kevin Space, then one from the BBC.

How these dots join up forms the first half of the book, interesting in illustrating how serendipity may throw up chances, but talent and application is needed to benefit.

The second half of the book covers his successful early series, Meet the Stans in which he travelled the ex-soviet states of mid-Asia, and Places That Don’t Exist which covered disputed territories such as Somaliland, Transnistria, and Taiwan. This gives insights into the methods and thought process that go into his programmes, mixing light with shade, combining travelogue with investigative current affairs, and being as much about the people as the landmarks.

Throughout, Reeve exudes his trademark ‘this is how it is’ honesty, laying bare his troubled adolescence and pulling no punches on the injustices he sees in the world. His writing style is as engaging as his voice to camera, which makes for an enjoyable read.