The Richard Dimbleby Lecture
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Play S1 E1The Richard Dimbleby Lecture was founded in the memory of Richard Dimbleby, the BBC broadcaster. It has been delivered by an influential business or political figure almost every year since 1972.
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Season 1
46 episodes
- 1. 1972: Lord Annan - What are Universities for, Anyway?No synopsis available yet.NRCC45minOct 31, 1972
- 2. 1973: Sir Robert Mark - Minority VerdictSir Robert Mark, Britain's top policeman, tonight critically examines our system of justice. He takes a fresh look at the role of the police in our society, and outspokenly declares his own beliefs about the state of law and order today. Introduced by David DimblebyNRCC45minNov 6, 1973
- 3. Lord Goodman - Housing - Who is to Blame?No synopsis available yet.NRCC45minOct 22, 1974
- 4. 1975: Sir Huw Wheldon - The British Experience in TelevisionFormer managing director of BBC television, Sir Huw Wheldon, gives a lecture before a specially invited audience at BBC Television Centre.NRCC45minFeb 26, 1976
- 5. 1976: Lord Hailsham - Elective DictatorshipDavid Dimbleby introduces Lord Hailsham's lecture, in which he proposes a written constitution for the UK to limit the powers of parliament and provide a system of checks and balances.NRCC45minOct 14, 1976
- 6. Jack Jones - The Human Face of LabourNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45minDec 6, 1977
- 7. 1978: Lord Rothschild - RiskThe Chairman of the BBC, Sir Michael Swann, introduces the Richard Dimbleby Lecture, in which Lord Rothschild discusses the assessment and acceptibility of risks.NRCC45minNov 23, 1978
- 8. Roy Jenkins - Home Thoughts from AbroadThe Rt Hon Roy Jenkins, President of the European Commission and formerly Home Secretary, and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, gives the eighth in this annual series of lectures. 'As a forum of national debate, the House of Commons has declined. The great clashes of party principle and the conflicting convictions of major personalities have mostly given way to a sterile exchange of unconvincing slogans and mutual recrimination, to a background of unedifying noise. Roy Jenkins examines the present state of the British political system. He questions whether our traditional stability has now turned into rigidity, and asks how we could improve the form and content of our politics.NRCC45minNov 22, 1979
- 9. 1980: Lord Denning - Misuse of PowerNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 10. 1982: Garret FitzGerald - Irish IdentitiesNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 11. 1983: Sir Peter Parker - Missing Our ConnectionsNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 12. 1984: David Sheppard - The Other BritainNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 13. 1985: Baroness Warnock - Teacher, Teach ThyselfNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 14. 1986: Sir John Harvey-Jones - Does Industry Matter?No synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 15. 1987: Sir Denis Forman - British Television: Who are the Masters Now?No synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 16. 1988: Sir George Porter - Knowledge Itself is PowerNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 17. 1989: Prince Philip - Living Off the LandNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 18. 1990: Helmut Schmidt - Europe in the NinetiesNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 19. 1992: Lord Taylor of Gosforth - The Judiciary in the NinetiesNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 20. 1994: Stella Rimington - Security and Democracy - Is There a Conflict?Jonathan Dimbleby introduces the 20th annual lecture as Stella Rimington, the Director General of the Security Service, sheds light on the workings and basic remit of MI5.NRCC45minJun 12, 1994
- 21. 1996: Richard Dawkins - Science, Delusion and the Appetite for WonderIn his role as the Charles Simonyi Professor For The Understanding Of Science at Oxford University, Dawkins regularly talks to the public regarding his views on the wonders of science. Several weeks ago, on November 12th, 1996, he delievered the Richard Dimbleby Lecture on BBC1 Television in England, entitled "Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder.NRCC45minNov 12, 1996
- 22. 1997: Lord Nolan - Public Life, Public ConfidenceNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 23. 1998: George J. Mitchell - Principles of PeaceNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 24. 1999: Susan Greenfield - The Future Could be Too Much FunNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 25. 2000: Sir Nicholas Serota - Who's Afraid of Modern ArtNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 26. 2001: Bill Clinton - The Struggle For The Soul of The 21st CenturyNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 27. 2002: Dr Rowan Williams - Nations, Markets and MoralsNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 28. 2003: Dominique de Villepin - The path towards a new worldNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 29. James Dyson: Engineering the DifferenceNo synopsis available yet.NRCC45min
- 30. Stella Rimington: Security and Democracy - Is There a Conflict?Jonathan Dimbleby introduces the 20th annual lecture as Stella Rimington, the Director General of the Security Service, sheds light on the workings and basic remit of MI5.NRCC45min
- 31. General Sir Mike Jackson: Defence of the Realm in the 21st CenturyGeneral Sir Mike Jackson gives the 31st Richard Dimbleby Lecture. The man who led Britain's soldiers through conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan talks publicly for the first time since leaving the Army. Speaking from the Regimental Headquarters of the London Scottish Regiment, General Jackson examines The Defence of the Realm in the 21st Century.NRCC45minDec 6, 2006
- 32. Dr J Craig Venter: A DNA-Driven WorldGene pioneer Dr. J. Craig Venter gives the 32nd Richard Dimbleby Lecture. One of the principal scientists who decoded the human genome is about to create the first artificial life form on Earth.NRCC45minDec 4, 2007
33. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales: Facing the FutureHis Royal Highness The Prince of Wales gives The Richard Dimbleby Lecture from St James's Palace in London. The heir to the throne has become well-known for identifying key issues ahead of mainstream public thinking, such as encouraging organic food production or emphasising the importance of inter-faith dialogue. In this lecture, he sets out some of the serious challenges which the world faces, and explores how some of these issues could be tackled in the years ahead.NRCC45minJul 8, 2009
34. Sir Terry Pratchett: Shaking Hands with DeathOne of the world's most popular authors gives the 34th Richard Dimbleby Lecture from the Royal College of Physicians in London. Sir Terry Pratchett announced in 2007 that he had been diagnosed with a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. In his keynote lecture, Shaking Hands with Death, he explores how modern society, confronted with an increasingly older population, many of whom will suffer from incurable illnesses, needs to redefine how it deals with death.
The acclaimed creator of the bestselling Discworld series, he is the first novelist to give the Richard Dimbleby Lecture. His books have sold more than 65 million copies and have been translated into 37 languages.NRCC45minFeb 1, 2010
35. Michael Morpurgo: Set Our Children FreeIn this year's Richard Dimbleby Lecture, Michael Morpurgo explores the increasingly urgent issue of children's rights, and investigates the wrongs that young people have to endure. One of Britain's most popular children's authors, Morpurgo has written over 120 books and more recently he has become a campaigner on behalf of children, both at home and abroad. In this role he visited the Middle East where he witnessed, first hand, the difficulties children face in times of conflict. His most well known book, War Horse, was recently dramatised to great critical acclaim and it is now being made into a Hollywood feature film by Stephen Spielberg.NRCC45minFeb 15, 2011
36. Sir Paul Nurse: The Wonder of ScienceIn the 2012 Richard Dimbleby Lecture, leading geneticist and Nobel laureate Sir Paul Nurse explores the wonder of science and how it enhances our culture and civilisation. He investigates how science can not only help solve the world's big problems, but also be harnessed to improve health and quality of life. One of Britain's most eminent scientists, Sir Paul is the president of the Royal Society and chief executive of the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation.NRCC45minFeb 28, 2012
37. Bill Gates: The Impatient OptimistIn the 2013 Richard Dimbleby Lecture, one of the world's greatest entrepreneurs and leading philanthropists, Bill Gates, explains his optimism for a world free of the debilitating disease, polio. He explains why he is devoting so much of his time, money and influence to eradicating polio, and how we can all help to finish the job. Since the launch of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates has become a leading figure on the international development stage, seeking innovative solutions to extreme poverty and poor health in developing countries.NRCC45minJan 29, 2013
38. Christine Lagarde: A New Multilateralism for the 21st CenturyChristine Lagarde, the first woman to head the International Monetary Fund, delivers the 2014 Richard Dimbleby Lecture. Charismatic and plain speaking, Lagarde explains her thinking on the challenges facing the global economy. Introduced by David Dimbleby from Guildhall in London.NRCC45minFeb 4, 2014
39. Martha Lane Fox: Dot Everyone - Power, the Internet and YouMartha Lane Fox, founder of lastminute.com, digital pioneer, baroness and chancellor of the Open University, delivers this year's Richard Dimbleby Lecture. She will challenge us all - leaders, legislators, and users - to understand the internet more deeply and to be curious and critical in our digital lives in order to tackle the most complex issues facing our society.
Introduced by Jonathan Dimbleby, from the Science Museum in London.NRCC45minMar 30, 2015
40. Gregory Doran: Is Shakespeare Chinese?Gregory Doran, artistic director of the RSC, who has been described as one of the 'great Shakespearians of his generation', delivers the 2016 Richard Dimbleby Lecture. Four hundred years after Shakespeare's death, Gregory reflects on the impact and resonance Shakespeare still has in the contemporary world.
Introduced by David Dimbleby from the Shard.NRCC45minMar 16, 2016- 41. John O. Brennan: Staying Safe in a Turbulent WorldJohn O Brennan, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, delivers the 2017 Richard Dimbleby Lecture. During his directorship, he was responsible for leading and managing intelligence collection, analysis, covert action and counterintelligence. He uses his extensive experience to assess the future prospects of security, stability and disruption in this time of global turbulence and challenge. Introduced by Jonathan Dimbleby.NRCC45minApr 4, 2017
42. Jeanette WintersonJeanette Winterson, award-winning writer and acclaimed author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, delivers the 2018 Richard Dimbleby Lecture. 100 years on from the first women in the UK securing the right to vote, Jeanette asks what we can learn from the suffrage movement of a century ago, as well as examining the longevity of recent global campaigns promoting the equality of women.
Introduced by David Dimbleby from the Palace of Westminster.NRCC45minJun 6, 2018- 43. Sir Tim Berners-Lee: The World Wide Web - A Mid-Course CorrectionBritish inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee talks about his aspirations for the future of the World Wide Web, in 2019 its 30th anniversary year. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is well underway: the Internet of Things, AI and virtual reality are soon to be commonplace in our lives. Yet fewer women than men are online, more than half the world remains offline, and developing countries are missing out on revolutionary opportunities. Introduced by Richard’s son, Jonathan Dimbleby, from London’s Design Museum.NRCC45minNov 17, 2019
- 44. Dame Sarah Gilbert: Vaccine Vs Virus: This Race - and the Next OneProfessor Dame Sarah Gilbert delivers the 44th Richard Dimbleby lecture from Oxford, talking about creating a Covid-19 vaccine in less than a year. Sarah Gilbert is the Said Professor of Vaccinology in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford. She works on vaccines for many different emerging pathogens and in 2020 led the development of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, achieving emergency use approval in record time. The vaccine has now been used in more than 170 countries around the world after a groundbreaking partnership was formed between Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Introduced by Richard’s son, David Dimbleby.NRCC45minDec 6, 2021
- 45. David Harewood: 75th anniversary of the Empire Windrush arriving in this countryAcclaimed actor David Harewood OBE delivers the 2023 Richard Dimbleby Lecture. On the 75th anniversary of the Empire Windrush arriving in this country, David explores the challenges that were overcome by his parents' generation and considers their legacy through his own personal journey of self-identity, as well as how they have shaped and inspired a new generation.NRCCJun 20, 2023
- 46. Sir Gareth Southgate: The Beautiful Game: Building Belief and Resilience in a Younger GenerationFormer England football manager Sir Gareth Southgate delivers the 2025 Richard Dimbleby Lecture. Gareth reflects on his personal journey, what he has lived through and what he has learned as a leader. He will explore the concept of belief, examine the power of unity and highlight the importance of resilience, especially for young people in a fast-changing and challenging world.NRCCMar 19, 2025
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The Richard Dimbleby Lecture
★ 7.0/1019721 season46 episodesReturning Series
The Richard Dimbleby Lecture was founded in the memory of Richard Dimbleby, the BBC broadcaster. It has been delivered by an influential business or political figure almost every year since 1972.
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