The Chairman of The Spectator has suggested life-long broadcaster and respected former BBC journalist David Dimbleby is a “closet republican”. In a brutally honest review of Mr Dimbleby’s memoir, Keep Talking: A Broadcasting Life, Andrew Neil has highlighted some surprising revelations relating to the Royal Family. The “unrivalled broadcasting career” of the former Question Time host was praised, but Mr Neil said the book also unmasked a certain “hate” for some royal traditions.
Writing for The Spectator, Mr Neil honoured the extensive career of Mr Dimbleby and explained the memoir had provided insight into his political views and long career within the BBC.
However, Mr Neil added: “More interesting, and perhaps surprising, is that Dimbleby is a bit of a closet republican.”
Mr Neil suggested the acclaimed journalist detests the “bowing and the scraping” of royal life.
The review continued: “Above all, he hates deference, which he finds ‘unsettling… why should one person feel bound to bow or curtsey to another?’”
The assessment comes after Mr Dimbleby has spent years narrating key royal events, including the state opening of Parliament and Trooping the Colour.
Mr Neil acknowledged that, despite the mild criticism regarding prestigious royal custom exposed within the book, Mr Dimbleby is “sufficiently self-aware” of his role in promoting the institution.
Mr Neil wrote: “He is sufficiently self-aware to admit this sounds strange coming from a broadcaster whose live ‘Voice of God’ commentaries on royal events have for so long been a model of deference and respect, making him ‘part of the support system of the monarchy’.”
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