Farewell Dimblebot, it’s been a fucking blast
David Dimbleby’s storied time as chair of Question Time came to an end on Thursday night, after 25 years.
The 80-year-old hero said he was not leaving broadcasting but intended to return to his “first love” – reporting.
He received a standing ovation from the audience and panellists at the close of the programme.
'From me, a happy Christmas and not goodbye, but goodnight'
David Dimbleby receives a standing ovation from the panel and audience as he says goodbye to BBC Question Time after 25 years. #bbcqt #dimblebye pic.twitter.com/3ldAPY6STR— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) December 13, 2018
At the end Dimbleby said: “This programme marks the end of my tenure as the chair… after a quarter of a century I’m off to new pastures, or at least in search of new pastures, but I didn’t want to end without saying something about this programme.
“It is, of all the programmes I’ve ever work on for the BBC, a truly team effort and I did want to end by thanking the people who have made it possible over the past 25 years.
“Above all I wanted to thank you here tonight – this audience. You’re joining over 100,000 people over the past 25 years who have been in the Question Time audience and who’ve exercised what I think is a really important democratic right: putting questions to the panel and to argue with each other as you have been tonight.”
Piers Morgan, Julia Hartley-Brewer and Iain Dale all paid tribute to the broadcasting totem.
Congrats to the great David Dimbleby as he bows out from @bbcquestiontime tonight after 25yrs.
I’ve appeared on the show 22 times with him & shared many a laugh, jibe & heated debate.
But always a delightful dinner afterwards.
Great broadcaster, great guy. 👍 pic.twitter.com/lJVmlyZnBL— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 13, 2018
Huge love and respect for the fabulous David Dimbleby on his final ever @bbcquestiontime tonight. I’ve been a QT panellist 12 times and David has been a true pro every time. He’s also a bloody hoot at the post-show dinner. End of an era. pic.twitter.com/vOXPuYgJAv
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) December 13, 2018
NEW BLOGPOST: David Dimbleby: Master of Question Time…
"David Dimbleby has become an institution. It's almost impossible to imagine anyone else presenting the programme so in many ways Fiona Bruce is on a hiding to nothing."#bbcqthttps://t.co/qeAGcT3pG1 pic.twitter.com/u3A2j1FxOm
— Iain Dale ⚒️🇺🇦.🇮🇱. (@IainDale) December 13, 2018
Dimbleby’s final panel featured David Davis, Nicky Morgan, Angela Rayner, Caroline Lucas and Jo Brand.
