For the first time in 45 years, Britain’s election night will be without a familiar broadcast face – that of a Dimbleby. The broadcasting legacy of Britain was once in the hands of the Dimblebys – with Richard Dimbleby, a renowned former war correspondent, leading the BBC’s all-night coverage of election results starting from 1955. His son, David Dimbleby, took over this tradition and served as the host for 10 consecutive elections from 1979 to 2017. Even more intriguing was the sibling rivalry between David and his younger brother Jonathan, who during Tony Blair’s triumphant New Labour victories from 1997, helmed the ITV’s overnight coverage.
As Britain approaches the next polls, however, no member of the illustrious Dimbleby family will be part of this ritual. Jonathan, who apart from being a journalist is also a historian, maintains a cheerful outlook, confident that the British citizens will adjust to the change.
An intriguing insight into his Election Day routine reveals a preference for not staying up all night, though he had done so in 2019. Our conversation unfolds in the historic Reform Club on London’s Pall Mall, famously the starting point of Phileas Fogg’s journey in the Jules Verne fictional novel.
Turning 80 next month, Jonathan Dimbleby has traversed the globe for nearly eight decades. The 2019 election result had unexpectedly left him rather dismayed. “Seeing Donald Trump rise to power in the US and then Boris Johnson here made me exclaim, ‘Save us!’” he recalls.
Despite indications that the upcoming July 4th elections may be unfavourable to incumbent Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak, with Labour’s Keir Starmer poised to emerge victorious, Dimbleby remains non-committal about staying up to catch Starmer’s anticipated victory, stating with a mischievous glint, “I’ll try to stay awake.”
Dimbleby’s initial foray into election coverage started in 1997 with a memorable all-night special, in which he enthralled ITV’s audience with the onset of the Blair epoch, terming it as a momentous period of transformation in the UK’s postwar political landscape. However, when asked to compare those times with the present, he doesn’t hesitate to voice his negative sentiment.
In contrast to the optimistic anticipation of ’97, Dimbleby laments the prevailing climate of disenchantment, exasperation, bitterness, and scorn that has gripped the populace now. He is appalled by the apathy people show towards anything beyond general political statements, undermining the democratic values, rule of law, and parliamentary system he holds dear.
Post-interview events like Nigel Farage’s electoral re-entry has given further impetus to the turbulent political climate. Dimbleby, already perturbed by the political chaos and disunity in Westminster finds the untruths, evasions, and fallacies spewed out by politicians to win public favour distressing. Disappointed with the lack of distinction in the election, a stark departure from ’97, he is contented not being involved. Instead, he finds solace and preoccupation in another area of his expertise – history.
In addition to his broadcasting career with BBC and ITV, which spans across the globe including reports from the North and significant programmes like ‘This Week’ featuring episodes like ‘Death on the Rock’, which ignited allegations of state-direct assassination orders against IRA members in Gibraltar, Dimbleby is an esteemed historian. In the last twelve years, he has penned an array of books pertaining to World War II. His recent publication, ‘Endgame 1944: How Stalin Won the War’ sitting before us speaks of Operation Bagration – the Soviet offensive during the summer that significantly weakened the German army from the east, soon after the Allies’ D-Day landing in the west. This ultimately paved the way for the downfall of Hitler’s forces and Nazi regime, with the brunt of the efforts shouldered by the Russians.
“Endgame is a significant, history-based volume, the result of three years of concentrated research; however, it is as compelling as any fast-paced suspense novel. This book is far from a mere scholarly interest, it weaves together the historical narrative with personal stories of German and Russian military personnel. This isn’t merely a chronicle of war, but an encapsulation of people’s trepidations and victories.
Our discourse all too often detaches itself from the harsh realities of war. We employ euphemisms like ‘collateral damage,’ rather than directly addressing the human beings who are losing their lives. We discuss weaponry, gunfire, but rarely dwell on the impacts these have on people. Individuals’ accounts are essential, irrespective of their position – from those wielding political power to those on the battleground’s front lines.
The scale of the Russian loss during the war, with nine million soldiers fallen on the battlefields, far outnumbers the Western Allies. Does Dimbleby, experienced in travel throughout the region, perceive the Russians still consider the rest of the world unappreciative of their sacrifice?
Many Russians harbour pervasive feelings of surprise and bitterness, questioning the lack of recognition for their contribution. They wonder why their rightful acknowledgment is withheld, why they are not invited to join the marched ranks, why they’re not esteemed as respected collaborators in the overthrow of Nazism.
Dimbleby suggests that Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president who spearheaded the Ukraine invasion two years ago, capitalises on this disillusionment felt by his citizens over the West’s historical disregard. The age-old Russian mentality of war, which is unfazed by the idea of great losses in exchange for even a slight chance of victory, is still evident in their strategies in Ukraine today. Why would they adopt such an approach?
Russian history has a recurring theme of compliance unless a sudden revolution opposes it. This culture of resignation — enduring hardships and oppression today in the expectation of a better tomorrow — encapsulates the Russian mindset. Dimbleby is convinced that Russia’s demonstrated ability to both inflict and endure the horrors of war means that it will remain “undefeated” in Ukraine, and a negotiated peace that includes a concession of Ukrainian territory is unavoidable. He goes on to critique the UK political rhetoric of a Ukrainian triumph as ‘baseless’.”
Endgame compellingly delves into the first-time discovery by the Russians of the horrifying realities of the Holocaust at Majdanek, a Polish extermination camp under the Nazis during Operation Bagration. Jews were slaughtered at this camp. Dimbleby expresses his deep loathing and apprehension of anti-Semitism and the prevalent anti-Muslim bias exacerbated by the Israeli-Gaza conflict.
Reflecting on his personal stance, he stated that, were he a protester, he would demonstrate in response to the Gaza issue, support the victims of Hamas post-7th October, and stand for the Palestinians’ rights to humane treatment and statehood. He finds the pro-Palestinian slogan “from the river to the sea” disconcerting, as it points to a future that provokes fear among Israelis. However, he also questions the lack of proactive criticism from the UK government towards the Israeli government, under Prime Minister Netanyahu, for the dreadful acts perpetrated against the civilian populace in Gaza. He asserts, “You censure atrocities – there’s no backing away from that.”
Dimbleby is also perturbed by Trump’s persisting influence notwithstanding his criminal conviction and continually polarising speeches. He expresses, “I’m apprehensive about Trump’s grip on reality, even more than Biden’s faltering. The [election] appears to be on a knife’s edge. Dire will be the consequences for America. I find this utterly petrifying.”
His sentiments about King Charles, his long-time confidant, however, are distinctly enthusiastic. The King is currently resuming his public duties following a recovery period from an undisclosed type of cancer. Dimbleby produced an intimate video profile of Charles in the 1990s during his Prince of Wales tenure and once more in 2022 when he took over the throne following the Queen’s demise.
The pair have maintained a solid friendship over the years. Dimbleby shared, “The [cancer] diagnosis came as a nasty shock to the king and was quickly succeeded by irritation at his inability to attend to his duties. I anticipated that his frustration might have also been somewhat annoying to those in his vicinity” – a nod to the King’s tendency to get irritable when things don’t go as planned.
Dimbleby has highlighted Charles’ in-depth understanding and expertise of his country’s history, including its complicated relationship with Ireland. This encompasses the Troubles and their aftermath. Dimbleby emphasises Charles’ linguistic sensitivity, alluding to his awareness of metaphorical ‘land mines’ and ‘fireworks’ – issues that require delicacy in handling to avoid sparking unnecessary contention.
In his early career, Dimbleby spent a considerable period in Northern Ireland, coinciding with the onset of the Troubles. One rather poignant memory includes his Easter special report, which made reference to ‘tribes’ among nationalists. This terminology was met with disapproval from republican movement’s then spokesperson, Danny Morrison. Drawing on his experiences, Dimbleby describes Morrison as a paradoxically ‘charming monster,’ who declared Dimbleby persona non grata in areas dominated by the republicans.
As time went on, Dimbleby found himself indirectly contributing towards peace measures in Northern Ireland under Tony Blair’s Labour rule. In an intriguing twist, he found himself being utilised by former Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam as a go-between to persuade his close associate, Chris Patten, to assist in reshaping the police force in Northern Ireland.
Irrespective of his experiences in the North, Dimbleby shares his fondness for Ireland, specifically West Cork and Skibbereen. The famous broadcaster found himself drawn to Glandore, where his acquaintance, Baroness Margaret Jay — daughter of ex-Prime Minister Jim O’Callaghan — resided. The late tycoon Tony O’Reilly, another of Glandore’s famous residents and a close acquaintance of Jay, invited Dimbleby to his home on numerous occasions. Dimbleby recalls O’Reilly’s flair for the dramatic, picking the most luxurious destinations worldwide for corporate meetings.
The conversation with Dimbleby concludes with a more serious note revolving around his late brother, Nicholas Dimbleby. Nicholas, a sculptor, tragically fell victim to motor neuron disease. His passing further solidified Dimbleby’s belief in a terminally ill individual’s right to choose the time of their death. He pledged to champion this cause on behalf of his brother.
“I recognise individuals’ apprehensions regarding the slippery slope effect. However, any statute for facilitated demise would safeguard every one of us from such a slope. My own wish aligns with this protective measure. Yet, I don’t believe we will be able to curtail the extensively recognised and rapidly growing perception that the right to terminate one’s own life when diagnosed with a terminal disease is a fundamental human entitlement. It could potentially shield us from severe types of death and alleviate significant amounts of suffering for not only oneself but also beloved ones.
The conclusion of life manifests in various forms – either amidst violence on Russian frontlines or in the tranquil comfort of a hospital bed surrounded by dear ones. For Dimbleby, the manner in which life culminates is just as valuable as life itself.”