Question Time's David Dimbleby, 85, makes rare public appearance after quitting TV

Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby was pictured at a gallery in East Sussex with his daughter Liza Dimbleby

David Dimbleby, the veteran broadcaster, has been seen in public on a rare occasion since retiring from his television roles. The 85-year-old was photographed alongside his daughter Liza Dimbleby at Towner Eastbourne art gallery in East Sussex, where they are curating 'Drawing the Unspeakable', their debut art exhibition.

This autumn, the journalist embarked on a new venture after stepping away from his TV career. The former Question Time host left his position at the BBC in 2018 after a 25-year tenure.

David was one of the most trusted TV journalists, having led coverage of significant recent events, including the EU Referendum result and the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales and Queen Elizabeth. Beyond Question Time, David presented Panorama and provided commentary for state events.

When he announced his departure from Question Time, David revealed he was returning to his "first love", reporting. In a statement, he said: "I will have been chairing Question Time for a quarter of a century and I've decided this is the right moment to leave. It has been a privilege to bring voters face-to-face with those in power. It has been exhilarating following the twists and turns of British politics from John Major in 1994, through the Blair and Brown years to Cameron and May. I am not giving up broadcasting. Instead, after years in the studio, I now plan to return to my first love: reporting."

The celebrity, who previously presented the BBC series 'A Picture of Britain', celebrating British and Irish poetry, music, and landscapes—along with its sequel 'How We Built Britain'—subtly criticised the BBC during an interview with The Guardian. He expressed a desire to host more programmes of that nature but remarked: "The BBC doesn't have any appetite for that at the moment. Nobody has an appetite for art. Nobody has an appetite for television – nobody watches it."

David, who has twice sought the role of chairman of the BBC and once as director-general, voiced his concern that the broadcaster had "lost its will" in the face of competition from platforms like Netflix and Disney , reports the Mirror.

He commented on the challengers, saying, "All those people who are not only draining away their audience but also the money and talent. They have smaller and smaller budgets," expressing his exasperation.

Yet, David's departure was not limited to his television work. Earlier in the year, he stepped down as chairman of Towner Eastbourne, having held the position for more than ten years.

His involvement with the arts continues robustly as he becomes the guest curator of an art exhibition at Towner Eastbourne. This exhibition is set to feature a dynamic array of artists, including Madge Gill, James Gillray, Barbara Hepworth, and David Bomberg.

Both David and his daughter Liza share a deep passion for art, holding the belief that it possesses the capacity to convey profound emotions.

David shared his thoughts on the curation process, remarking: "Co-curating this exhibition has been an exhilarating experience. Liza has always been my companion and guide through the world of art. For a time, during the Covid lockdown, rather than write to each other, we would exchange drawings by email. This was what gave Joe Hill the idea of asking us to put on this exhibition, drawing taking the place of words."