Half the Independent Television Programme Companies rebroadcast the BBC’s Tribute programme in its entirety. The other half broadcast a special tribute mounted by Granada Television. Later Michael Peacock, Richard’s first producer of Panorama and the General Election programmes, spoke in the BBC Television News:
At a moment like this when so many things could be said about Richard Dimbleby I only want to say three things. The first is that he really was the greatest professional broadcasting has ever known. No other man gave so much that was unique to both radio and television. He set standards of performance and conduct which will never be excelled. He truly was a master of his craft, head and shoulders above everyone else in skill, integrity and dedication. For broadcasting and especially for television his loss is a tragic one, there never will be another like him, and television will never be quite the same now that he’s gone.
Secondly I must underline the extraordinary courage that he showed during the past five and a half years. To this day, I don’t know how he managed to keep going, never missing a programme, always managing to summon up from some deep, apparently limitless reserve of willpower and courage the extra energy and stamina that he needed – not just for his job but to put upon his programmes the hallmark of quality. And to all of us who know what he must have endured during the election results marathon, Telstar spectaculars, royal weddings and so on, his is a quite incredible story of courage which will, I’m sure, be recalled with wonder and admiration for many, many years to come.
And lastly, it should be said that Richard was really a wonderful person to have known. Behind the dignity of his public image, with the almost automatic association of his name with Panorama and the coverage of great occasions, behind the face known to millions, was a warm and delightful man, intelligent, full of fun, kind-hearted, patient, courteous, above all devoted to his family, to his four children and to Dilys his wife who shared so bravely his long and private fight for life. For them, this is of course a time of intense and private grief, and for all of us who were lucky enough to have known him as a friend and colleague this is a moment of deep and lasting sorrow and a sad, sad ending to the year.