1) What was your longest journey?
It was for filming my last telly programme, Tropic of Cancer. I travelled to 18 countries over 6 months.
2) Where would you never go?
I have no idea. Because of my job it would be professional suicide to say!
3) What was the worst illness you have ever got?
Malaria, which I got in the tropics. I also got meningitis as a child.
4) Who is the most interesting foreign leader you’ve ever met?
President Voronin of Moldova. When I met him, he forced me to down multiple bottles of Moldovan cognac! Let’s just say he was still standing while I was gone under the table…
5) What’s the best way to get an upgrade?
I don’t know, I’ve never had one! If anyone knows, contact me.
6) What’s your least favourite airline?
Can’t remember the airline, but it was when I was flying out of wartorn Dubrovnik. I thought there was oil leaking out of the engine, but the air hostess informed me it was only hydraulic fluid.
7) Name your travel essentials.
Torch, a Leatherman knife and reading material. I get so bored on those 10 hour journeys, I just have to have something to read.
8) What’s the best thing to do when lost in a foreign country?
Look like you know where you’re going. There’s a lot of people who want to liberate you of your money.
9) Who is your travel hero?
Bill Bryson, I like his writing style.
10) Where would you advise students to travel to this summer?
Madagascar, it’s spectacular on every scale. It’s like the Galapagos Islands, but bigger.
11) Where would you pick as home?
Britain. You can’t dismiss the UK. We’re fortunate enough to have a democratic government and easy access to things like water. If I had to choose somewhere else, it would be Denmark.
12) What was your proudest moment?
My wife agreeing to marry me. Also, winning the One World broadcasting award for outstanding contribution to world understanding.
13) What’s the most scared you’ve ever been?
In Mogadishu, Somalia, we had a group of armed mercenaries looking after us. They bumped into another rival group and everyone pulled their guns on each other. I really thought we were all going to die!
14) Do you ever travel without a TV crew?
Yes, with my wife, short haul and usually by train to reduce our carbon footprint.
15) What’s the furthest you’ve been from home?
Mentally, it was in the deserts of northern Mauritania, days from any civilization. We were cooking food around a campfire when a nomad came from nowhere. We gave him some food according to nomad tradition and then he disappeared again. It was like being on another planet.
16) Does travel ever lose its appeal?
No, there’s always something new to experience.
17) What’s the worst native dish you’ve ever eaten?
Zebu penis soup. It was full of gristle and I still feel sick thinking about it.
18) How do you decide where next to go?
With Tropic of Cancer, the line pretty much dictated it. However, a great website is seat61.com – brilliant ideas for train travel.
19) What’s the next country you would want to visit?
France, by rail, to see my brother and his beautiful family.
20) What’s your next TV programme?
Tropic of Cancer, starting this Sunday on BBC 2.