The Richard Dimbleby Lecture — Season 1, Episode 34: Sir Terry Pratchett: Shaking Hands with Death

Episode synopsis

One of the world's most popular authors gives the 34th Richard Dimbleby Lecture from the Royal College of Physicians in London. Sir Terry Pratchett announced in 2007 that he had been diagnosed with a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. In his keynote lecture, Shaking Hands with Death, he explores how modern society, confronted with an increasingly older population, many of whom will suffer from incurable illnesses, needs to redefine how it deals with death. The acclaimed creator of the bestselling Discworld series, he is the first novelist to give the Richard Dimbleby Lecture. His books have sold more than 65 million copies and have been translated into 37 languages.

About The Richard Dimbleby Lecture

The Richard Dimbleby Lecture was founded in the memory of Richard Dimbleby, the BBC broadcaster. It has been delivered by an influential business or political figure almost every year since 1972.

More episodes from Season 1

• E11972: Lord Annan - What are Universities for, Anyway?
• E21973: Sir Robert Mark - Minority Verdict
• E3Lord Goodman - Housing - Who is to Blame?
• E41975: Sir Huw Wheldon - The British Experience in Television
• E51976: Lord Hailsham - Elective Dictatorship
• E6Jack Jones - The Human Face of Labour
• E71978: Lord Rothschild - Risk
• E8Roy Jenkins - Home Thoughts from Abroad
• E91980: Lord Denning - Misuse of Power
• E101982: Garret FitzGerald - Irish Identities
• E111983: Sir Peter Parker - Missing Our Connections
• E121984: David Sheppard - The Other Britain