Jolyon Jenkins

Jolyon Jenkins is a British investigative journalist and radio documentary producer known for his work with BBC Radio 4, BBC Television, and the New Statesman magazine. Over a career spanning several decades, he has researched, presented, and produced numerous documentaries covering a wide range of topics including politics, technology, social issues, and the environment.

Career

In the 1980s, Jenkins worked in investigative journalism. He was a researcher for journalist Duncan Campbell on the proposed BBC documentary about the Zircon affair, part of the Secret Society series. During the controversy over the programme, police searched the homes of the implicated journalists, including Jenkins, and offices of the New Statesman.
By the early 1990s, he was deputy editor of the New Statesman.
Jenkins later transitioned into radio documentary production. He often acts as both producer and presenter. He created several series for Radio 4, including Out of the Ordinary, which explored unusual science and culture topics. He also co-hosted The Patch, a series where journalists travelled to random UK postcodes to find local stories.

Reception

In The Guardian, critic Miranda Sawyer described him as a "long-time BBC radio man" and wrote "As a presenter, Jenkins is sensitive, but his script is straightforward". She also acknowledged that "he has turned his attention to many different topics". Reviewing The Patch, Sawyer praised the producers for consistently finding engaging stories in unlikely places.