U-turn as BBC promises inquiry into Diana ‘dirty tricks’ allegation
Bosses say Bashir will be investigated over claims he used false bank statements to win historic interview
THE BBC performed a U-turn yesterday as it confirmed it will investigate new allegations concerning the “dishonest” manner in which it secured its historic Panorama interview w with Diana, Princess of Wales.
Earl Spencer, the Princess’s brother, has demanded a full l BBC inquiry into the alleged subterfuge ge used by Martin Bashir, the interviewer, wer, as he sought to win her trust.
He has handed over er a dossier of evidence to the BBC C which he said illustrated the full ull gamut of underhand methods s adopted by Bashir, including ng forged bank statements and d the concoction of stories that at played on the Princess’s insecurities. ecurities.
The Earl described d an internal 1996 inquiry into o the allegations, overseen by Lord ord Hall, who went on to become director irector general, as a “whitewash”. h”.
Documents released sed under Freedom of Information tion laws have revealed that Lord Hall told BBC governors “there there had been no question of Bashir trying to mislead or do anything thing improper” and that he was “an honest man”.
The BBC has since e admitted that Bashir, 57, now the corporation’s religious affairs correspondent, espondent, did falsify bank statements nts but insisted they were not instrumental mental in securing the interview.
Tim Davie, the director irector general, apologised to Lord Spencer about Bashir’s methods last month but declined to open a formal ormal investigation. Lord Spencer lambasted the BBC’S failure to accept “the full gravity of this situation” amid increased publicity surrounding the 25th anniversary of the historic interview, in which the Princess famously declared: “There were three of us in this marriage.”
In a letter to Mr Davie, Lord Spencer said he would never have introduced Bashir to the Princess had he not been shown the forged statements purporting to show several royal courtiers were in the pay of the security services. The BBC had claimed it could not investigate further because Bashir is seriously ill with coro coronavirus complications. However, it h has now vowed to pursue the matter wh when he is better. It said in a statem statement: “When he is well, we will, of cour course, hold an investigation into these ne new issues.” Despite the BB BBC apparently confirming in 1996 that Bashir had engaged in s ubterfuge, he remained at th the BBC until he left to pursue a career ca in the United States. He wa was rehired as BBC religious affa affairs correspondent in 2016. Sou Sources insisted he “applied throu through an open competition” and “nob “nobody looked at his file from 25 year years ago”. Despite previo previous assertions that he had done noth nothing untoward, one source revealed that at the time Bashir “understo “understood he was wrong and was contrite ab about it”.
The original inve investigation is understood to have cent centred on a letter said to have been writte written by the Princess, in which she ab absolved Bashir of blame, claiming she had not been shown any ban bank statements and had not been mi misled.
That letter, seen s at the time by BBC managem management, has now mysteriously disappeared. disap
In a handwritten l letter following the interview, Lord Hall, Hal who was head of news at the time, pra praised Bashir’s “skill, sensitivity and exce excellent judgment.”