Martin Bashir has blamed the controversy surrounding his landmark 1995 interview with Princess Diana on “professional jealousy”, it has been revealed.
It added that the allegations that he secured the interview by deception because he is “non-white” and “working class” would not have taken place if he had been Dimbleby.
His comments came as the BBC released around 3,000 emails relating to the interview following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
In an email to journalists in 2020, Bashir wrote: “We are disappointed to hear that this so-called ‘fabricated’ article is once again gaining attention.
“It didn’t help the interview, but professional jealousy, especially within the company, allowed hats to be thrown at the alleged misconduct.
“At the time, it was also clear that there was some frustration that a second-generation immigrant with non-white, working-class roots should have the courage to enter the palace and conduct an interview.
“It would have been easier if one of the dynastic families (Dimbleby et al.) had done it!”
A 2021 investigation found that Bashir had secured it. panorama Interviews with deception and forged documents.
What has Martin Bashir done since the Princess Diana interview?
The journalist became well known after Bashir gave an exclusive interview with Princess Diana.
He went on to score major interviews with George Best, Michael Barrymore, Louise Woodward and Michael Jackson.
The journalist continued to work for the BBC until 1999, before moving to ITV.
From 2004 to 2016, Bashir worked as a news anchor for ABC. night line In New York.
In 2016 he returned to the BBC as religious affairs correspondent.
An investigation in May 2021 found Mr Bashir guilty of breaching the BBC’s editorial practices by using “deceptive techniques” to secure an interview with Princess Diana. It concluded that he had lied to multiple people, including the BBC.
At the time, Bashir resigned from his role at the BBC citing health problems. It was reported that he was seriously unwell due to complications from COVID-19 and the effects of heart surgery in 2020.
Explaining Princess Diana’s interview scandal
Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Princess Diana was a big scoop for the BBC. It was watched by over 20 million people and caused a huge controversy.
In an interview, Princess Diana admitted to having an affair, saying that her affair with then-Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles made her feel worthless, and that she suffered from bulimia and self-harm. He said there are “three of us” in our marriage. She mentioned Camilla Parker Bowles and suggested that Prince Charles’ staff were running a campaign against her.
Living members of the royal family have never been so open about their lives. Shortly after her interview was broadcast, the Queen wrote to her husband and wife asking for a divorce.
After the interview, questions were asked about how Bashir came to meet the Princess of Wales.
This eventually led to an official inquiry known as the Dyson Report, published in 2021. The inquiry was led by former Supreme Court Justice John Dyson and began in 2020.
It emerged that Mr Bashir had requested false bank statements from a graphic designer who worked for the BBC.
These appear to show payments from newspaper group News International to former staff of Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer.
Dyson’s report concluded that this was to gain Earl Spencer’s trust and introduce Mr Bashir to Princess Diana.
Earl Spencer told Lord Dyson: “I was drawn into this. I was deceived…He told me very tactfully about what bothered me the most, which is the vicious behavior of the press. Of course this is ironic. That’s the thing.”
According to the interrogation, Bashir exploited Princess Diana’s vulnerability and “paranoid fear” and made several claims, including that she was being watched by MI6 and that there was a plot to kill her.
Dyson’s report said: “He must have intended to exploit her insecurities to get her interested in him.”
It also said the BBC had concealed the facts about how Mr Bashir secured the interview, adding: “For no good reason, the BBC has failed to live up to the high standards of integrity and transparency that are its hallmarks.” Ta.
Bashir apologized for the document forgery, saying it was a “stupid act and one that I deeply regret,” but added: “The bank statement had nothing to do with Princess Diana’s personal choice to participate in the interview.” he claimed. ”.