News Archive

2010

28 April - New film African Railway broadcast on BBC Four.

"Stranded in the African bush when his train breaks down, journalist and film-maker Sean Langan watches as an elephant meanders past, just yards ahead. "Apparently, if you remain silent, they rarely stampede." Cue a man noisily trying to kick-start the engine. The Chinese-built Tazara railway (AKA The Freedom Railway), running from Zambia to Tanzania, "once carried the hopes and dreams of post-independence Africa", but is now in financial meltdown. Riding through spectacular scenery, Langan meets those struggling to keep it on track." AJC - The Guardian

2009

October 2009 - Sean begins work on BBC Four documentary about a railway line in Tanzania:

"Thank God. I'm finally back in the land of the living, and back on the road, after a long absence spent staring into an abyss. After my release from Hotel Taliban last Summer I withdrew, mainly into the arms of my two boys, family and friends - but also, inadvertently, up my own arse/nose/bottle/youporn/ anything, infact, to not think about my three months in a dark room under threat of death by my Taliban captors. But after months of that realised I'd ended up in another prison of my own making, so stopped all of that and got back to life. Feels great. Have basked in the company of my children and got my life back on track. Now ready to start my romance with making documentary films again. But before I do, would just like to send a heart-felt thanks to all those who helped or who were worried about me during my ordeal, and apologies for not contacting you all. But extremely grateful nevertheless. About to start filming again. No war for me, at least not for a while anyway, and until my insurance premiums have come down and my boys grown up. BBC4 has commissioned me to make a documentary about a railway line in Tanzania; a slice of African-life, something heartwarming and heartfelt. And made me promise not to cross the border into Congo or Zimbabwe.....as if I'd cross a border into a dangerous place! Writing this from my hotel in Dar es Salam. Biggest danger I'll face, apparently, are elephants on the railway track. Shouldn't be a problem. I'm not in a hurry and happy to wait and watch the elephants go by. Feels great to be alive and in Africa - the cradle of humanity, and the birthplace of mine, and everyone else's, original grandmother!" Sean Langan

2008

In March 2008, whilst filming in Afghanistan for Channel 4's Dispatches series, Sean was kidnapped by a group with links to The Taliban... he was held for 3 months before finally being released on 21st June (2008)

What follows is a small collection of external links to news reports and articles related to his capture, and release.

23 February 2008 - Meeting the Taliban shortlisted for an RTS, (Royal Television Society) Award, and Fighting the Taliban has been nominated for a Bafta - "Will have to get my best shawal kamise and bow tie out of the wardrobe, and polish my shoes."

2007

15 November 2007 - 'Fighting the Taliban' wins the prestigious 2007 Rory Peck Award. The documentary won 'The Rory Peck Award for Features' for its eye-witness account of the battle to retake a strategically critical town in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

May 2007 - Sean Langan gets a website:

"Well, I've finally joined the rest of the world and gone on line. Just wanted to say hello to everyone who's clicked on my website, and to say thank you to anyone who's ever watched one of my documentaries. It really is nice to know someone's watching a documentary about the world outside, especially when most people in TV would rather film-makers concentrate on important subjects like celebrities, celebrities and... er, celebrities. So welcome, and thank you. Also, like any new-comer, here's a few of my likes and dislikes...I love and hate, in no particular order: TV suits and executives, newspaper and magazine editors, london, kabul, Helmand, Kunar, baghdad, Fallujha, Ramadi, Tehran, Caracas, Buenos Aires, the valleys and mountains and people of Kashmir, The Algarve; kapuzinski, despatches, vodka cigarettes, cocaine, cameras, food and wine, laughter and tears, thrills, high drama, tension, when all is lost but still won, guns at head, swims at sunrise, surfing, nature, snow, the intensity of life, near death and adrenalin, children's smiles, innocent eyes and humanity at it's best; L'Atmosphere, The Hamra; my family and friends, living and departed, and my ex-wife and two precious boys, and all my comrades in the foreign press corp, and everyone I've ever met on the road.... Taliban, Afghan driving instructors and brave Afghan women, American and British Soldiers, Iraqi insurgents, islamic fighters, jihadists, latin revolutionaries, human rights activists, holy men and women, and saints, enviromentalists, mercenaries, terrorists and freedom fighters all. But most of all I love my mother, brothers, sister, father, sons, God, Allah and my close friends, and all the people I've met who have to just get on with their lives in some of the places I've visited in this mad mad world. It's been an adventure, and a privelage to live in the magical real world out there. Thanks and hello to all I've met on my travels. I am presently lying low in London, recovering from the last two years working in Afghanistan and pretending to write a book. So will remain silent, and sleeping, until the next time I go abroad." Sean Langan