BBC Investigative Correspondent

I built my reputation as a reporter on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and as an investigative correspondent on the World’s longest running television current affairs programme, BBC Panorama. Two of the greatest bastions of British journalism.

Born and brought up in south-east London, my tone, style and accent was different to that normally heard on the flagship Today programme and caused an immediate stir in 2001 amongst the traditional Radio 4 audience.

Two years after joining the BBC I became BBC3’s launch current affairs undercover reporter on a number of programmes including, Movers, Shakers and Crack Takers, Gangland Manchester and Blood Diamonds, the exploitation, and routes, used by terrorists to smuggle conflict diamonds. This was dangerous undercover work but I enjoyed it immensely.

I also presented a number of programmes for BBC2 including This World: Locked in Paradise and Who Killed Kelso Cochrane? I investigated and presented a fascinating three-part investigation which revealed the UK’s first criminal underworld rich list, including smugglers, drug barons and fraudsters.

After joining Panorama in 2006 I reported on a wide range of issues, including Bursting the House Price Bubble, Addiction to Games, Track my Trash, Jailed for a Knife, Smugglers Tales, Orphans of Haiti, Kill at Will: America on trial, and Children’s Fight Club, DIY Justice. During one of my first investigations, Death on Corfu I uncovered crucial information that helped the parents of two children who died from carbon dioxide poisoning whilst on a Thomas Cook package holiday to secure justice.

My investigation for Panorama into the murder of the BBC celebrity, Jill Dando, cast doubts on the firearms forensic evidence used at the trial of Barry George, who was convicted of killing the BBC TV presenter. In August 2008, Barry George was acquitted at a retrial and freed.

I have reported from some of the most dangerous and hostile places in the world, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Borneo, Nigeria, Jamaica, Beirut, Colombia, Papua New Guinea and Haiti to name a few.

I am a highly experienced and skilled investigative journalist and presenter on both prime time television and international streaming platforms such as Netflix but it is an inspiration to an under-served and diverse audience that I focus my activities now.

I am Raphael Rowe and my career was born as a result of spending 12 years in prison for crimes I did not commit.