An investigation into Martin Bashir ‘s 1995 Panorama interview with Princess Diana has found that the journalist deceived her brother in order to secure the explosive sit-down chat.
A report by Lord Dyson, the former master of the rolls and head of civil justice, was released today.
It had been launched after questions about the tactics used to land the interview were questioned.
The late princess’ brother Earl Spencer had alleged that Bashir showed him fake financial documents relating to his sister’s former private secretary Patrick Jephson, and another former royal household member, and told outlandish and untrue stories about the royal family to gain access to her.
Here’s a rundown of the report’s findings….
Bashir used deception tactic to land Diana interview
Lord Dyson described in detail how Bashir commissioned fake bank statements.
The fake statements showed payments from news organisations to the account of Alan Waller, a former employee of Earl Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother.
Bashir showed the documents to Earl Spencer and a few days later, Bashir also produced other bank statements to Earl Spencer, which showed payments in the account of Commander Patrick Jephson, Princess Diana’s private secretary and Commander Richard Ayland, the private secretary of the Prince of Wales.
Lord Dyson wrote: “It is likely that these statements were created by Mr Bashir and contained information that he had fabricated.”
(Image: PA)
He added: “By showing Earl Spencer the fake Waller and Jephson/Aylard statements and informing him of their contents, Mr Bashir deceived and induced him to arrange a meeting with Princess Diana [105] to [117].
“By gaining access to Princess Diana in this way, Mr Bashir was able to persuade her to agree to give the interview. This behaviour was in serious breach of the 1993 edition of the BBC’s Producer Guidelines on straight dealing.”
Bashir has commissioned the fake statements from Matt Wiessler, a graphic designer who did freelance work for the BBC.
He has not been criticised for accepting the commission.
How the deception was uncovered
When the interview aired, Mr Wiessler made the connection between the bank statements and the broadcast, and became concerned that he has played a role in obtaining the interview through deception.
(Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
He immediately reported his concerns to the BBC.
An investigation was launched by Tim Gardam (Head of Weekly Programmes in BBC News and Current Affairs), but Lord Dyson write that although Bashir gave an account of faking the documents, he said he had not shown them to anyone.
The investigators accepted that Bashir was telling the truth but asked him to provide evidence that Diana had not seen the fake bank statements, which he did within a few hours, handing over a note signed by the Princess that supported what he had said.
Lord Dyson writes: “Mr Gardam did not then know that Mr Bashir had lied when he said that he had not shown the documents to anyone and did not know that he had in fact shown them to Earl Spencer in September 1995.
“Mr Bashir was to repeat this lie twice in March 1996. It was only on 23 March 1996 that Mr Bashir admitted that he had lied.
“Mr Gardam did not consider the possibility that Mr Bashir secured the interview with Princess Diana indirectly by showing the documents to Earl Spencer.
(Image: ITV)
“In the light of what he knew at the time (and in particular the Diana note), I do not consider that it would be reasonable to criticise Mr Gardam for failing to ask Earl Spencer for his version of the facts.
“But Mr Gardam too readily accepted that Mr Bashir was telling the truth about the fake documents.”
Lord Dyson said that a 1996 finding that Bashir’s dealings in securing the interview had been straight and fair was “not justified”.
“It was based in large part on the uncorroborated assertions of Mr Bashir,” Lord Dyson said.
“This error was compounded by their failure to approach Earl Spencer once they knew that Mr Bashir had shown the Waller statements to him.”
Overall conclusion
Lord Dyson writes: “Without justification, the BBC fell short of the high standards of integrity and transparency which are its hallmark by covering up in its press logs such facts as it had been able to establish about how Mr Bashir secured the interview and failing to mention Mr Bashir’s activities or the BBC investigations of them on any news programme.”
How the BBC responded
Former director-general Lord Tony Hall has said he accepts the 1996 BBC inquiry into how Panorama secured its interview with Diana, Princess of Wales “fell well short of what was required” and he was “wrong to give Martin Bashir the benefit of the doubt”.
In a statement to the PA news agency, he said: “I have read Lord Dyson’s report, and I accept that our investigation 25 years ago into how Panorama secured the interview with Princess Diana fell well short of what was required.
“In hindsight, there were further steps we could and should have taken following complaints about Martin Bashir’s conduct.
“I was wrong to give Martin Bashir the benefit of the doubt, basing that judgment as I did on what appeared to be deep remorse on his part.
“Throughout my 35-year career at the BBC, I have always acted in ways I believe were fair, impartial and with the public interest front and centre.
“While Lord Dyson does not criticise my integrity, I am sorry that our investigation failed to meet the standards that were required.”
BBC Director-General, Tim Davie said: “I would like to thank Lord Dyson. His report into the circumstances around the 1995 interview is both thorough and comprehensive. The BBC accepts Lord Dyson’s findings in full.
“Although the report states that Diana, Princess of Wales, was keen on the idea of an interview with the BBC, it is clear that the process for securing the interview fell far short of what audiences have a right to expect. We are very sorry for this. Lord Dyson has identified clear failings.
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“While today’s BBC has significantly better processes and procedures, those that existed at the time should have prevented the interview being secured in this way. The BBC should have made greater effort to get to the bottom of what happened at the time and been more transparent about what it knew.
“While the BBC cannot turn back the clock after a quarter of a century, we can make a full and unconditional apology. The BBC offers that today.”
BBC Chairman, Richard Sharp added: “The BBC Board welcomes the publication of Lord Dyson’s report which it unreservedly accepts. There were unacceptable failures. We take no comfort from the fact that these are historic. The BBC must uphold the highest possible standards. I want to thank Lord Dyson for the thoroughness and diligence of his work.”
The BBC is today writing to a number of individuals involved or linked to these events to apologise directly. It says it recognises that it has taken far too long to get to the truth.
The 1995 Panorama interview received a number of awards at the time. Bosses said they do not believe it is acceptable to retain these awards because of how the interview was obtained.
What Bashir said
Bashir has responded to Lord Dyson’s report which investigated the circumstances in how the journalist secured his Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales in 1995.
He said in a statement: “This is the second time that I have willingly fully co-operated with an investigation into events more than 25 years ago. I apologised then, and I do so again now, over the fact that I asked for bank statements to be mocked up. It was a stupid thing to do and was an action I deeply regret. But I absolutely stand by the evidence I gave a quarter of a century ago, and again more recently.
(Image: (C) Panorama: Princess Diana Interview / BBC)
“I also reiterate that the bank statements had no bearing whatsoever on the personal choice by Princess Diana to take part in the interview. Evidence handed to the inquiry in her own handwriting (and published alongside the report today) unequivocally confirms this, and other compelling evidence presented to Lord Dyson reinforces it.
“In fact, despite his other findings, Lord Dyson himself in any event accepts that the princess would probably have agreed to be interviewed without what he describes as my ‘intervention’.
“It is saddening that this single issue has been allowed to overshadow the princess’ brave decision to tell her story, to courageously talk through the difficulties she faced, and, to help address the silence and stigma that surrounded mental health issues all those years ago. She led the way in addressing so many of these issues and that’s why I will always remain immensely proud of that interview.”
What’s next?
The BBC previously delayed the broadcast of a Panorama investigation into the interview.
It was expected to air on BBC One on Monday but was postponed due to a “significant duty of care issue”, according to the broadcaster.
It will now air tonight at 7pm.
Bashir, who was the BBC News religion editor, left the corporation last week on health grounds.