Why Dimbleby can’t find time to watch Fiona do his old job

Having presented Question Time for 25 years David Dimbleby might be expected to take a keen interest in the show.

However, the distinguished broadcaster reveals he hasn’t watched the BBC One flagship programme since Fiona Bruce took over the hot seat in January.

‘i don’t watch it any more,’ he tells me. ‘i was on it for 25 years so i don’t want to sit there thinking, i should be there, back in the driver’s seat. That chapter is over so i haven’t watched it.’

Bruce was praised for her ‘dazzling debut’ at the helm of the show but some critics say she interrupts too

often. Dimbleby, 80, says he is enjoying life after Question Time by podcasting and is busy as chairman of the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne.

‘I haven’t retired,’ he says. ‘I’m just moving into different fields as I’m actually working on a six- part podcast on Rupert Murdoch.

‘It’s very exciting and I’m loving it because I did Question Time for a quarter of a century and what I wanted to do is to do different kinds of communicating and broadcasting, the arts is one and the podcasting is another.

‘Maybe I’ll do some more television but at the moment I have lots of balls in the air, as you may say. I just don’t know which one I’m going to catch.’

Dimbleby is delighted that his son Fred, 21, is carrying the broadcasting torch by joining the ITV News traineeship scheme.

‘I’m thrilled,’ he adds at the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2019 Awards at the Science Museum.

‘I think it’s wonderful and I think it’s particularly thrilling that it’s ITN and not the BBC, so there’s no question that I pulled him any favours.’

Perish the thought.