Panorama
Richard Dimbleby's previous career high spot was quite possibly
the coronation, but he was to become firmly associated with a
program that began its long history at the tail end of 1953: Panorama
- the longest running Current Affairs program anywhere in the
world.
The only thing the early episodes had in common with the
political powerhouse which subsequently developed was the
title.
The original presenter was journalist Patrick Murphy (followed
shortly thereafter by Max Robertson) and the show had more of a
magazine format, with Malcolm Muggeridge (1903 - 1990) on hand to
interview the famous.
A
former editor of Punch, Muggeridge had a highly individual
manner of interrogation - He once asked a celebrated brain surgeon
who had just completed the separation of Siamese twins whether, if
requested to do so, he could join them together again.
Panorama was transformed in 1955 into the program we know today
via the arrival of Richard Dimbleby (pictured above and top of
page) as anchorman, and a new
description of the show as the 'window on the world'.
Panorama turned Dimbleby into a father-figure who people felt
they could rely on, and politicians soon understood that their
results in the polls could very easily depend on their performance
on this show.
 Other
notable occupants of the Panorama hot seat have been Robin Day
(pictured at left), Alastair Burnet, Robert Kee and Richard
Dimbleby's son, David, who took over in 1974.
Panorama was responsible for what is still remembered today as
the most effective April Fool joke ever screened.
Viewers witnessed Richard Dimbleby reporting on a bumper
spaghetti harvest in southern Switzerland.
Dimbleby was seen walking between spaghetti-laden trees as farm
workers loaded the crop into baskets (pictured below).
Hundreds of people rang the BBC, most of them wanting to know
where they could buy spaghetti plants. Producer Michael Peacock
informed them that many British enthusiasts achieved admirable
results by planting a small tin of spaghetti in tomato sauce!
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