Broadcaster and writer accuses London college of rush to judgment in forcing Nobel prize-winning scientist to quit over remarks about women

Jonathan Dimbleby has resigned from his honorary fellowship at University College London in protest at its treatment of biologist Sir Tim Hunt after he made controversial remarks about women in science.

The broadcaster and writer accused the college of a “disgraceful” rush to judgment in forcing the Nobel prize-winning scientist to quit his honorary fellowship at UCL and urged other fellows to help change the college’s mind.

Dimbleby said: “The college has a long and honourable tradition of defending free speech, however objectionable it may be. Sir Tim made a very poor joke and it quite rightly backfired. He then apologised for that,” he told the Times.

“This is not an offence that should be enough to ensure that a distinguished scientist should be told to resign his position.”

Hunt, 72, caused outrage earlier this month when he accused female scientists of being disruptive and has also been forced to resign from other academic posts.

He has since admitted he had made an “idiotic joke” during a conference in Seoul, South Korea, but insisted his remarks had not been fully reported and that he had the support of hundreds of female scientists.

Hunt had told the audience of his “trouble with girls ... you fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticise them, they cry”, but, he said, he had gone on to say “now seriously” before praising the role of women in science.

Dimbleby said: “It seems to me the reaction of UCL was totally inappropriate. It was a rush to judgment led by a vociferous social media campaign and I think it is disgraceful.

“The idea that serious grown-up women thinking of pursuing a science career, and thinking of going to UCL to do so, would be put off by an elderly professor saying something silly then apologising for it seems bizarre.”



Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, and scientist Richard Dawkins have already attacked what they saw as an overreaction to Hunt’s remarks.

Michael Arthur, the provost of UCL, said in a statement last week that Hunt’s remarks “do contradict the basic values of UCL – even if meant to be taken lightly – and because of that I believe we were right to accept his resignation.

“Our commitment to gender equality and our support for women in science was and is the ultimate concern.”