Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby has condemned the BBC's decision to drastically reduce its dedicated events broadcast team, warning that the move could compromise coverage of major national occasions. The corporation plans to cut the unit responsible for royal events, state funerals, and the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.
Mr Dimbleby, 87, who has fronted more than 30 Cenotaph services, expressed his concerns on Newsnight, calling the decision 'crazy'. He said: 'What worries me is the BBC closing down the events department, which I’ve worked with for years, which covers state occasions ... and it’s a very small unit devoted to doing that.' He added that the team's meticulous preparation, often taking months, cannot be replaced by freelancers.
He elaborated on the extensive work involved, noting that the Cenotaph service requires three months of planning and events at Westminster Abbey take a month. 'You have to have a group that can negotiate these things, you don’t just go in and stick up a camera,' he said. The current team is reportedly set to be reduced to just one person supported by freelancers.
Mr Dimbleby challenged the viability of this approach, citing his experience covering Nelson Mandela’s funeral and inauguration. 'Those were massive operations which took weeks to organise. You can’t just do it with freelancers – freelancers are good, but they don’t have the continued involvement,' he stated. He concluded by emphasising that the BBC's unique coverage of national events should be 'guarded above all else'.
Mr Dimbleby began his BBC career six decades ago. His father Richard was the BBC's first war correspondent, and his brother Jonathan hosted Any Questions? for 32 years.
