Peter Dimmock
Encyclopedia
Peter Harold Dimmock CBE
, CVO
(born 6 December 1920) is a pioneering former sports broadcaster of British television during its formative years in the 1950s. He was the first host of the BBC's long-running Grandstand
and also the first host of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year
awards.
. Before making his name in television he served in the Royal Air Force
during World War II
. He transferred from the Territorial Army in 1941 and qualified as a pilot, then in 1943 he became a flying instructor with the rank of Flight Lieutenant
, in 1944 he was appointed as a staff officer at the Air Ministry
. After his demobilisation he joined the Press Association
and later the BBC
in 1946 as the head of outside broadcasts.
in 1953 and the first televised Grand National
in 1960. In 1954 he went in front of the cameras as the host of a new sport news programme Sportsview (which became Sportsnight
in 1968). In its first year the show featured Roger Bannister
's record breaking four-minute mile run. The popular American "Perry Como Show" often preceded Sportsview, and the famous crooner would say "I now I hand you over to Peter Dimmick".
The BBC's long-running Sports Personality of the Year award also started in 1954 - with Dimmock again taking the presenter role, which he was to continue for over a decade.
Having presented Sportsview for over four years, he fronted the first two shows of Grandstand
in October 1958 before handing over to David Coleman
.
He presented his final Sportsview in 1964 and took up several other roles within the BBC until he left in 1977.
. Elwes died on 15 July 1987. They had one daughter, Amanda. On 8 June 1990 he married Christabel Rosamund Bagge.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(born 6 December 1920) is a pioneering former sports broadcaster of British television during its formative years in the 1950s. He was the first host of the BBC's long-running Grandstand
Grandstand (BBC)
Grandstand was a British television sport programme. Broadcast between 1958 and 2007, it was one of the BBC's longest running sports shows, alongside BBC Sports Personality of the Year.Its first presenter was Peter Dimmock...
and also the first host of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year
BBC Sports Personality of the Year
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year is an awards ceremony that takes place annually in December. Devised by Paul Fox in 1954, it originally consisted of one titular award. Several new awards have been introduced, and , eight awards are presented. The oldest of these are the Team of the Year and...
awards.
Early life and career
Dimmock attended Dulwich CollegeDulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
. Before making his name in television he served in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He transferred from the Territorial Army in 1941 and qualified as a pilot, then in 1943 he became a flying instructor with the rank of Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
, in 1944 he was appointed as a staff officer at the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
. After his demobilisation he joined the Press Association
Press Association
The Press Association is the national news agency of the United Kingdom and Ireland, supplying multimedia news content to almost all national and regional newspapers, television and radio news, as well as many websites with text, pictures, video and data content globally...
and later the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in 1946 as the head of outside broadcasts.
Television career
Television was still in its infancy and as head of outside broadcasts, Dimmock was in charge of a wide range of events including the Queen's CoronationCoronation of the British monarch
The coronation of the British monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
in 1953 and the first televised Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
in 1960. In 1954 he went in front of the cameras as the host of a new sport news programme Sportsview (which became Sportsnight
Sportsnight
Sportsnight was a midweek BBC television sports programme that ran from 1968 until 1997.-Sportsview:Sportsnight was a successor to Sportsview which started on 8 April 1954. Sportsview was devised by Paul Fox, later Controller of BBC1 and Peter Dimmock was the original host for a decade...
in 1968). In its first year the show featured Roger Bannister
Roger Bannister
Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister, CBE is an English former athlete best known for running the first recorded mile in less than 4 minutes...
's record breaking four-minute mile run. The popular American "Perry Como Show" often preceded Sportsview, and the famous crooner would say "I now I hand you over to Peter Dimmick".
The BBC's long-running Sports Personality of the Year award also started in 1954 - with Dimmock again taking the presenter role, which he was to continue for over a decade.
Having presented Sportsview for over four years, he fronted the first two shows of Grandstand
Grandstand (BBC)
Grandstand was a British television sport programme. Broadcast between 1958 and 2007, it was one of the BBC's longest running sports shows, alongside BBC Sports Personality of the Year.Its first presenter was Peter Dimmock...
in October 1958 before handing over to David Coleman
David Coleman
David Coleman, OBE is an English former sports commentator and TV presenter who worked for the BBC for almost fifty years. In 2000, he was awarded the Olympic Order, the highest honour of the Olympic movement....
.
He presented his final Sportsview in 1964 and took up several other roles within the BBC until he left in 1977.
Personal life
Dimmock married BBC continuity announcer and What's My Line? panellist Polly ElwesPolly Elwes
Polly Elwes, born Mary Freya Elwes , was a BBC Television in-vision announcer from 1957 to 1960. She attended the Central School of Speech and Drama, now a part of the University of London.-Television career:...
. Elwes died on 15 July 1987. They had one daughter, Amanda. On 8 June 1990 he married Christabel Rosamund Bagge.
Awards
- Royal Television SocietyRoyal Television SocietyThe Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
RTS Sports Awards - Special Judges Award 2004 - Commander of the Victorian Order (CVO)Royal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...