jonathan dimbleby on his father's belson report. 1953 and a key moment in the history of television in london. bbc bosses asked a reluctant winston churchill for the right to film queen elizabeth the seconds coronation. witness history spoke to ladyjane lacey, who was one of the queen's maids of honour. when we arrived, we all got into a procession, and then the queen turned round and said, are you ready, girls? we said, of course, yes, ma'am. i was a very unsophisticated 19—year—old. i have to say, i was really very frightened. i didn't know at that point that was going to be televised. the cinema newsreels had filmed previous coronations, but for the first time ever, television viewers in their homes would now be able to watch the crowning of their queen as it happened. we never, ever had a television before. my father bought one months earlier. as soon as he knew. but the big question was whether permission would be granted to televise the service from inside westminster abbey. there seemed some suggestion that the coronation cou

someone who got to know the prince well during those years, broadcaster and royal biographer, jonathan dimbleby in his favour. moreover, he was very, very much involved in public affairs, to which he was extraordinarily devoted. not least, of course, the environment and climate change. the idea, the very idea is nonsense, and this is nonsense on stilts. my worry about it is, i strongly favour freedom of dramatic expression and freedom of expression more generally. but this can very easily muddle people who are not familiar with how the constitution of this country operates. damejudi dench has also written to the times about what she fears is a cruel, unjust portrayal and says there needs to be an onscreen warning that this is fiction, not truth. however, netflix says it has always been open from the beginning that this is a fictional dramatization. the question is, of course, how much should we believe? tv critic scott bryan feels the public knows what it's watching. is it fact or is it fiction? i mean, that is the big question, isn't it? you're not quite certain what's fact and fiction, then?

someone who got to know the prince well during those years, broadcaster and royal biographer, jonathan dimblebythe audience must bejust as confused. i feel that audiences don't expect that it is a fact based thing. if they did, they would watch a documentary. i think from the very start. .. do you think people understand that they're making stuff up? i think they do. i mean, the crown has never said that it's been a documentary. i feel that from the very beginning people have always seen this as a drama. i think an element of confusion can come in because of its attention to detail and how it looks. the fact that they have actors who portray, sometimes very accurately, the mannerisms of the royal family. it feels like reality to me. and i watch it and i keep on going back to google going, "did this really happen?" i mean, it is confusing. well, at the same time, though, i say that people see it as a drama. it's always been a clear drama. it's been an indication of a drama. i think viewers deserve more credit. this was a difficult period for the royal family. the show�*s writer, peter morgan, ad

someone who got to know the prince well during those years, broadcaster and royal biographer, jonathan dimblebyaking stuff up? i think they do. i mean, the crown has never said that it's been a documentary. i feel that from the very beginning people have always seen this as a drama. i think an element of confusion can come in because of its attention to detail and how it looks. the fact that they have actors who portray sometimes very accurately the mannerisms of the royal family. it feels like reality to me. and i watch it and i keep on going back to google going did this really happen? i mean, it's confusing. well, at the same time, though, i say that people see it as a drama. it's always been a clear drama. it's been an indication of a drama. i think viewers deserve more credit. this was a difficult period for the royal family. the show�*s writer, peter morgan, admits it touches on painful memories, but says the show has not been unkind. how true it all is is still unfolding. david sillitoe, bbc news. all week on breakfast we've been checking in with the children in need rickshaw challenge t

in 1945 richard dimbleby was the first person to report on the first person to report on the liberation of belsen concentration campjonathan concentration camp jonathan jumble concentration campjonathan jumble beadle back on his father's harrowing reports which revealed the full harrows of nazi germany. this film includes scenes of suffering which some viewers may find distressing. ifind it which some viewers may find distressing. i find it hard to describe adequately the horrible things i've seen and heard but here on adjourned artefacts fill my father had seen terrible things, and to witness as he entered belsen concentration camp. i witness as he entered belsen concentration camp.- concentration camp. i passed throu . h concentration camp. i passed through the _ concentration camp. i passed through the barrier _ concentration camp. i passed through the barrier and - concentration camp. i passed j through the barrier and found myself in the world of a nightmare. the living lay with their heads against the corpses and around them moved to the awful ghostly procession of emaciated people. this is what the germans did.— the germans did. during six ear

dimbleby. his son, the broadcaster jonathan dimblebyjoins us now. good morning to you.r you too? yes, it always - sends a tingle down my spine to hear it partly for the event and partly because it was my father's voice and it was such an important event in television's history, because when the coronation was shown of course it was only shown in this country live but it was at the same time, airports, taken across to the united states and canada to be shown there, as well. there were 3 million people i think lining what was a five mile route to the abbey and inside, 8000 people, i mean, it is so different to how i hope and expect it will be. there were 8000 people all dressed in their robes, peers, people from all over the world, a huge scale, huge procession, and at the heart of it of course, which will remain, an important religious celebration and ceremony and a great national occasion. , :, :, :, , :, ceremony and a great national occasion-— ceremony and a great national occasion. , :, :, :, :, , occasion. jonathan, you were only eilht or occasion. jonathan, you wer