BBC News
By John Ware
Twenty-five years ago, the BBC s Panorama programme landed a scoop rivals the world over wanted - an interview with Diana, Princess of Wales. Her son and heir to the throne, Prince William, has now launched an unprecedented attack on the corporation over that interview.
The programme, which attracted a UK audience of 23m, was a career-defining moment for reporter Martin Bashir.
But after accusations resurfaced last autumn that Bashir misled the princess to gain her trust, the BBC established an inquiry led by the former Supreme Court judge Lord Dyson. That inquiry has judged Bashir to be unreliable , devious and dishonest.
Two BBC whistleblowers who tried to highlight the deceitful methods employed by Martin Bashir to obtain his explosive interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, have attacked the corporation’s “generic” apology.
Graphic designer Matt Wiessler, who was commissioned by Bashir to create mocked-up documents, has long claimed he was made the scapegoat for the scandal.
The report by Lord Dyson, former master of the rolls and head of civil justice, which was published on Thursday, found Bashir “deceived” Diana into agreeing to the interview.
The journalist commissioned falsified documents purporting to show payments into the bank account of Alan Waller, a former employee of Earl Spencer; Patrick Jephson, Diana’s private secretary; and Richard Aylard, private secretary to the Prince of Wales, the report found.
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‘Dark day’ for BBC, says director-general );
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THE director-general of the BBC said it’s a “dark day” for the corporation following an official inquiry into the conduct of Martin Bashir.
Tim Davie, who lives in Peppard, told ITV News that the broadcaster accepts “in full” the findings of the investigation which concluded the journalist used “deceitful behaviour” to secure his Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales in 1995.
The report, written by Lord Dyson, concluded Mr Bashir was in “serious breach” of the BBC s producer guidelines after commissioning fake bank statements.
The documents related to Princess Diana’s former private secretary Patrick Jephson and another former royal household member which Mr Bashir then used to gain access to Princess Diana and persuade her to take part in the interview.