Household names including Martin Bell, Kate Adie, Peter Taylor and Sir Trevor McDonald will talk about their experiences in The Troubles I've Seen – giving a unique and poignant insight into their time in Northern Ireland.

Sir Trevor McDonald said: "Nothing you read, nothing you were told about it prepares you for actually being on the ground in Belfast on a day when there is rioting, on a day when bombs are going off.

"Absolutely nothing in my life prepared me for that."

The three-part series is presented by the veteran Belfast-born journalist Denis Tuohy.

"I was intrigued at how many journalists kept coming back here, despite the fact that times were bad and they were often at risk," he said.

Enthusiastic young reporters were often sent to Northern Ireland as a way of training them in covering conflict and working in difficult situations.

Many of those who began their careers here would go on to be renowned figures in broadcasting.

Yet, despite bearing witness to history and travelling across the globe, they developed a fondness for Northern Ireland which has stayed with them throughout their careers.

"It was the warmth of the people that they liked," Denis said.

"There was an extraordinary contrast between meeting so many people that you like and yet being aware that they didn't like each other, were killing each other and would kill you if you weren't careful."

The programme shows an aspect of newsreaders and broadcasters that viewers don't normally see as they talk about the tragedies and events they experienced – and the humorous moments as well.

"Knowing quite a few of them personally, it was fascinating to see that side of them," Denis said.

"It reveals a lot about who they are," he added.

Denis also said that the people appearing in the programme were heartened by how much Belfast had changed in the years since they were based here.

Sir Trevor McDonald stayed in the Europa when he returned to Belfast to make the series – bringing his wife to the Province for the first time.

Denis said: "He insisted on staying in the Europa for old time's sake, and the restaurant manager remembered him from his first time here."

The opening programme in the series deals with the naivety and shock of many new reporters who found themselves covering the situation.

Nick Ross, who was a student at Queen's University in the 1960s, would go on to cover the conflict here.

"The first dead body I ever saw was just lying on a street," he said.

"I never heard bombs before, let alone watch them go off. There were times when we were held at gunpoint, times we were shot at."

Programme two looks at the escalation of the violence and the close encounters journalists had with the major players in the conflict.

The final part of the series deals with the journey towards peace and the Good Friday Agreement.

Despite witnessing some of the worst acts of the Troubles what also comes across in the programme is the fondness journalists had for Northern Ireland

"I loved the place," Kate Adie said.

"I loved the people. I just had a ball.

"It's the only place I know where you stood for eight hours with people throwing the odd brick at you and then ended up shrieking with laughter as a bloke sidled past you and told a very good joke."

The Troubles I've Seen is on UTV tonight at 8pm.