The hour-long special was fronted by Yalda Hakim and featured reporting and analysis from Stuart Ramsay, Dominic Waghorn, Alistair Bunkall, Alex Rossi, and Ivor Bennett.

The hour-long special, fronted by lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim, aired in December 2024 following the sudden ousting of the dictator.

Featuring on-the-ground reporting and interviews from chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn, as well as analysis from Alistair Bunkall, Alex Rossi, and Ivor Bennett, the programme covered the aftermath of Assad’s toppling across prisons, hospital morgues, and his ransacked villa.

It was praised by judges for its outstanding storytelling and “commitment to painting a global picture”, including Assad’s role as a key ally of Vladimir Putin.

One judge praised the “strong, knowledgeable journalists who provided nuanced insights” throughout, while another commended its “excellent editorial clarity and insightful, even-handed journalistic analysis”.

Judges also cited how widely it was shared across social media, as well as praise from human rights organisations, Syrian refuges in the UK, and industry peers.