The Richard Dimbleby Lecture - Episode Guide

John O Brennan, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, delivers the 2017 Richard Dimbleby Lecture. During his directorship, he was responsible for leading and managing intelligence collection, analysis, covert action and counterintelligence. He uses his extensive experience to assess the future prospects of security, stability and disruption in this time of global turbulence and challenge. Introduced by Jonathan Dimbleby.

Jeanette Winterson, award-winning writer and acclaimed author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, delivers the 2018 Richard Dimbleby Lecture. 100 years on from the first women in the UK securing the right to vote, Jeanette asks what we can learn from the Suffragette movement of a century ago, as well as examining the longevity of recent global campaigns promoting the equality of women.

Introduced by David Dimbleby from the Palace of Westminster.

British inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee talks about his aspirations for the future of the World Wide Web, now in its 30th anniversary year.

Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert delivers an account of the development of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, which has now been used in more than 170 countries.

Jonathan Dimbleby looks back on half a centenary of the BBC's annual lectures, inspired by his broadcaster father Richard – the ‘voice of the nation'. Since 1972, leading figures from the arts, sciences, judiciary, politics, broadcasting, the forces and even the royal family have delivered speeches that have always been provocative, challenging and at the cutting edge of their particular field.

Jonathan looks through a personal selection of programmes and explores how thoughts expressed decades ago can still resonate today. Amongst the speakers featured in this collection are President Bill Clinton, Jeanette Winterson, Terry Pratchett, Bill Gates, Tim Berners-Lee, Stella Rimington and King Charles III.

Actor David Harewood OBE delivers the 2023 Richard Dimbleby Lecture, exploring the challenges overcome by his parents' generation and his own personal journey of self-identity.