BBC to look into Earl’s claims over interview with Diana

THE BBC is taking the allegations surrounding Panorama’s interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1995 “very seriously”, BBC Director General Tim Davie has said.

Diana’s brother Earl Spencer has claimed that he was shown “false bank statements” by the reporter who interviewed Diana, Martin Bashir.

Earl Spencer claimed these statements were used to help the reporter gain access to the princess. The result was her explosive interview 25 years ago.

The BBC has said it will hold an independent investigation into the Earl’s allegations.

It added that Mr Bashir, now the BBC’s religion editor, is seriously ill with Covid- related complications and is not in a position to respond.

The graphic designer who mocked up documents allegedly used to secure the interview with Diana, Princess of Wales has said he was made a scapegoat by the BBC, and called on the broadcaster to apologise.

Matt Wiessler spoke about the impact the experience had on his life after he was reportedly asked by Mr Bashir in 1995 to create two bank statements, allegedly falsely showing that people were being paid for surveillance on the princess.

Speaking on television for the first time in new ITV documentary The Diana Interview: Revenge of a Princess, Mr Wiessler said: “I’ve agreed to talk to you because I’m this guy that’s remembered for forging the document and I want to clear my name.”

He said he was “blacklisted”, his work dried up and he left the industry.

Mr Wiessler, 58, said: “I quite clearly felt that I was the one that was going to be the fall guy in this story.

“All I want is for the BBC in this instance to come forward and honestly make an apology. Because it’s had a huge impact.”

■ The Diana Interview: Revenge of a Princess was on ITV at 9pm last night, with the second episode on tonight at the same time.