David Dimbleby
Patron of the British Vintage Wireless & Television Museum


David Dimbleby wrote:

“I am delighted to be a Patron of The British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum. When I visited the museum I was struck by the enthusiasm and knowledge of early broadcast devices kept alive by the members.  It is an interesting and enjoyable place preserving an important part of our social history.”

David Dimbleby's Signature

Biography

David Dimbleby is a major presenter of current affairs programmes and documentaries, including BBC One's “Question Time” which he has chaired since 1994.

He joined the BBC over 40 years ago as a news reporter in Bristol after leaving Oxford University where he studied politics, philosophy and economics.  During his BBC career he has presented “Panorama”, “24 Hours”, “People and Power”, “The Dimbleby Talk-in” and “This Week Next Week”.  He has also made two major documentary series in South Africa (“The White Tribe”) and in the USA (“An Ocean Apart”) as well as many films in India, the USA and Europe.

In 2002 he chaired the BBC debate entitled “Our Monarchy - the Next 50 Years” and in 2003 he chaired “Iraq: Britain Decides” and presented “Mandela: The Living Legend”.

In 2005 he made “A Picture of Britain” which was followed in 2007 by “How We Built Britain” and in 2010 by “The Seven Ages of Britain” - all series made for BBC TV and accompanied by books written by him.  In 2013 he presented “The People’s Coronation” for BBC One and his latest programme “Britain and the Sea” will be shown on BBC One in November/December 2013.

He has been the BBC commentator for a wide range of special outside broadcast events, including the State Opening of Parliament and Trooping the Colour and he continues to commentate for the annual Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph.  He has commentated at the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales, HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Baroness Margaret Thatcher and in programmes to mark HM Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee in 2002 and the 60th Anniversary in 2013.

He has been the BBC’s anchorman for all General Elections since 1979, as well as for the Budget and Local, European and American Elections.  In 2010 he was the moderator for the BBC’s broadcast of the Leaders’ Debate which saw the leaders of the three main political parties take part in three televised debates, the first such debates to be broadcast live in the run-up to a UK election.

November 2013



Photo of David Dimbleby