Oggy Boytchev

Who is Oggy Boytchev?

Ognian Boytchev, commonly known as Oggy Boytchev is a British journalist and independent producer with more than 20 years experience at the BBC in London. Until recently, he had been working as a producer to the BBC World Affairs Editor, John Simpson. Born in Cherven Briag, Bulgaria, Boytchev moved to Britain in 1986. His first job was a newsreader with the Bulgarian Section of the BBC World Service. He then worked as a sub editor in the World Service newsroom before moving to BBC Television in 1996. As a television producer he has worked in more than 40 countries and in the world's main war zones: Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Kosovo. He worked as John Simpson's producer in Northern Iraq during the war against Saddam Hussein in 2003. In January 2008, Oggy Boytchev and John Simpson worked undercover in Harare, Zimbabwe in spite of a ban on the BBC by the regime of Robert Mugabe. Boytchev produced and directed John Simpson's reports from Iran during the street riots in Tehran after the disputed presidential elections in June 2009. Oggy Boytchev has produced and directed some of John Simpson's interviews with World leaders and the recent editions of Simpson's World. He has produced and directed news reports and documentaries from Iraq, Afghanistan, South Africa, Iran, Israel, Gaza, the United States, and most recently, in North Africa.