David Dimbleby explains why BBC has played ‘absolutely vital’ role in society as broadcaster celebrates 100 years-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

David Dimbleby has reflected on the impact of the BBC on its centenary (Picture: James Veysey/Shutterstock)

As the BBC marks its centenary today, veteran journalist David Dimbleby says the broadcaster has an ‘absolutely vital’ role.

The former Question Time host, 83, said the BBC remained as close to an ‘objective truth teller’ as was possible in the current media landscape.

While perhaps best known for fronting the topical debate program for 25 years between 1994 to 2018, Dimbleby first joined the BBC in the 1960s, where he went on to play a pivotal role in its political coverage, leading the reporting of 11 general elections over the subsequent decades.

He also became the anchor for coverage of events of national importance, including the State Opening of Parliament and the Trooping the Colour.

While he retired in 2018, Dimbleby came out of retirement in September to commentate on the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II for the BBC.

Speaking about the impact of the broadcaster, Dimbleby said that it was ‘the one organisation that can be relied on not to have a political agenda’.

‘The BBC’s only agenda is to try to get to the truth of things,’ he said.

‘It doesn’t have a political slant, it doesn’t have particular views it wants to get across. It is as near as we can get to an objective truth teller.

‘And I think, in a world where there is a cacophony of voices and a cacophony of different prejudices and opinions and distortions prevailing, it’s absolutely vital to have something where, whatever its faults, its intention is to strive to tell the objective truth.’

Dimbleby hosti8ng Panorama in 1974 (Picture: Len Trievnor/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Officially launched on August 22 1932, the BBC Television Service and was the world’s first regular television service with a high level of image resolution.

But while it has a long and storied history, Dimbleby said the focus should instead be on looking forward.

‘Milestones are obviously a cause for celebration but actually, when you hit 100 years, what you should be looking at is the next 100 years,’ he said.

‘The past is very interesting but it is gone. It’s what it teaches us for the future that matters.’

Dimbleby says while the BBC milestone is a ’cause for celebration’, the broadcaster should also be looking forward (Picture: BBC Studios/James Parris)

To mark the centenary, Dimbleby has fronted a three-part series, Days That Shook The BBC, which highlights the lowest moments in its history and how the broadcaster responded.

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Dimbleby said he expected the BBC to ‘heap praise upon itself’ during the centenary celebrations and instead of ‘just joining in with the eulogies of praise’, he instead wanted to examine how it had responded when things went wrong.

‘I also wanted to examine whether the BBC has been fairly or unfairly treated in the past, by politicians and by other pressure groups,’ he added.

‘Finally, I wanted to examine the BBC’s relationship with people across the country, given that it is paid for by everybody.

‘I wanted to ask whether the BBC has got the relationship with its audience right.’

Dimbleby hosted Question Time for 25 years (Picture: Colin Davey/Getty Images)

The son of journalist Richard Dimbleby, his own father had an extensive career with the BBC, and also had an important part in the coverage of other significant events in the royal family—providing commentary for the funeral of George VI in 1952 and of the Queen’s coronation in 1953.

But, earlier this month, Dimbleby admitted he didn’t understand the obsession with the monarchy, saying it was an ‘irrational system’ and a ‘strange institution to have in the 21st century’.

Days That Shook the BBC with David Dimbleby is streaming on BBC iPlayer.

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