David Dimbleby, the former BBC presenter who hosted Question Time for 25 years, has candidly discussed his health and ageing in a rare interview, admitting he is "kept alive by swallowing pills." The 87-year-old broadcaster told Radio Times that his age is "very startling" to him, but he remains determined to keep working.
Dimbleby on Ageing and Work
"I'm amazed I'm alive and healthy and able to go on working. I'm kept alive by swallowing pills. It would be hard to bear if a health condition curtailed my ability to work," Dimbleby said. He clarified that he is not a workaholic but loves his family, children, and passions such as travel, music, concerts, and opera. "I love working, but it's never been a slog. I don't think of it as work," he added.
Career Highlights and Tattoo Story
Dimbleby fronted Question Time from 1994 until Fiona Bruce succeeded him in 2019, and anchored election broadcasts and major state occasions, including Princess Diana's funeral in 1997. In 2013, at age 75, he made headlines by getting his first tattoo—a scorpion on his shoulder—while filming the series Britain and the Sea. "You are only old once. I have always wanted a tattoo," he said at the time. The tattoo, which represents his star sign, took about 30 minutes to an hour. Dimbleby noted it was not painful, describing the sensation as "zinging."
Missing Legs and Lighthearted Reaction
Months after getting the tattoo, Dimbleby acknowledged that the scorpion had only six legs instead of the correct eight. Appearing on ITV's Loose Women, he joked, "I'm no David Attenborough, I didn't spot that." He declined to correct it, adding that the American thrash metal band Megadeth has a six-legged scorpion logo, making him a fan. "It's modest. It can't be seen unless I choose to show it to someone. I'm rather fond of it actually, this little scorpion sitting on my shoulder ready to attack my enemies," he said.
