Jonathan Dimbleby (born 1944) is a British broadcaster, journalist, historian and author whose career has combined current-affairs journalism with major works of modern history. The son of broadcaster Richard Dimbleby, he studied philosophy at University College London before beginning a long career in television and radio. He has presented programmes for the BBC and ITV, including Any Questions?, and has reported extensively on political and international affairs. Alongside broadcasting, Dimbleby has written biography, travel writing and history, with a particular emphasis on twentieth-century warfare and the political decisions that shaped the Second World War.
His major historical works concentrate on the Second World War. Destiny in the Desert: The Road to El Alamein examines the North African campaign and the struggle between British and Axis forces culminating in the 1942 battle; The Battle of the Atlantic traces the prolonged naval campaign against German U-boats and its importance to Allied survival and victory. Barbarossa: How Hitler Lost the War recounts Germany’s 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, combining military operations with the experiences of soldiers and civilians. Endgame 1944: How Stalin Won the War follows the Soviet offensives of 1944 and argues for the central importance of the Eastern Front in the destruction of Nazi Germany. His other books include Russia: A Journey to the Heart of a Land and Its People, The Palestinians, The Prince of Wales and The Last Governor, on Chris Patten and the handover of Hong Kong.
