Ten years ago, Hatem was a student watching both season one of Game of Thrones and the Syrian revolution unfurl. But when the peaceful protest movement turned into devastating civil war, he wanted to help. Fresh out of medical school and still in his 20s, Hatem became one of the most important doctors in Aleppo. Working in unimaginably terrifying and desperate conditions, he ran the only children's hospital during the siege of 2016. To deal with the daily intensity and horrors of war, he found solace and escapism in his favourite fantasy TV shows.  

Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Maryam Maruf

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Picture: A screen showing Game of Thrones
Credit: VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP via Getty Images

Ten years ago, Hatem was a student watching both season one of Game of Thrones and the Syrian revolution unfurl. But when the peaceful protest movement turned into devastating civil war, he wanted to help. Fresh out of medical school and still in his 20s, Hatem became one of the most important doctors in Aleppo. Working in unimaginably terrifying and desperate conditions, he ran the only children's hospital during the siege of 2016. To deal with the daily intensity and horrors of war, he found solace and escapism in his favourite fantasy TV shows. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com Picture: A screen showing Game of Thrones Credit: VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP via Getty Images

Fear and fantasy TV in the siege of Aleppo

<p>Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. 
 
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Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. </p><p>Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years.
 
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Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years. Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784 You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice

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