Hot Shots 2026: Toby Fitzpatrick

A Master’s degree in quantum and particle physics might not sound like the most obvious qualification for covert investigative journalism in some of the most dangerous parts of the world.

Yet Toby Fitzpatrick, who worked at Cern during his studies, has put his background in machine learning to use in mastering open-source intelligence (OSINT) to prove human rights abuses and check the accuracy of contributors’ claims.

These skills, alongside other, largely self-taught journalistic techniques, helped Toby uncover the kidnapping of two children from Ukraine by the wife of a senior Russian politician, as seen in the 2023 Panorama doc Putin and Ukraine’s Stolen Children, a story that created headlines and drew the attention of the International Criminal Court.

“Toby has selflessly built his skillset to help create award-winning journalism, to give a voice to those often unheard, and to expose alleged war crimes in a part of factual television that struggles for commissions, funding and exposure,” says director Robin Barnwell, who collaborated with Toby on 2022 Panorama film Mariupol: the People’s Story and has watched him develop from an AP to a producer over the past four years.

“Toby’s patient, kind, considerate, compassionate, resilient and good-humoured with contributors and colleagues alike. It’s rare to have the chance to see a freelancer in broadcasting develop their skills over a prolonged period and for them to be actively involved in all parts of the TV production process.”

Top Hat Productions founder and chief executive Darren Kemp hails Toby’s technical skills and “natural aptitude” for investigation journalism, but above all his “innate humanity”.

“Toby has built strong relationships with contributors in the most difficult of circumstances where their lives are under threat and their families are being killed,” he says.

“They trust him because he genuinely cares about them and their situation. His generosity of spirit is also evident in his work with education charities serving under-privileged communities.”