Martin Bashir commissioned fake bank statements and used “deceitful behaviour” in a serious breach of the BBC’s guidelines to secure his interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, an official inquiry has found.
Bashir was described as a “rogue reporter” by Lord Birt, director-general of the BBC at the time of the interview.
Birt said in a statement: “We now know that the BBC harboured a rogue reporter on Panorama who fabricated an elaborate, detailed but wholly false account of his dealings with Earl Spencer and Princess Diana.
“This is a shocking blot on the BBC’s enduring commitment to honest journalism; and it is a matter of the greatest regret that it has taken 25 years for the full truth to emerge.
“As the director-general at the time, I offer my deep apologies to Earl Spencer and to all others affected.”
Lord Dyson, a former master of the rolls and head of civil justice, was appointed to look into the circumstances surrounding the explosive 1995 Panorama interview, which famously featured Diana saying: “Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”
Bashir breached BBC rules by mocking up fake bank statements and showing them Spencer to gain access to the princess, his report said.
In response to Lord Dyson’s findings, Bashir has apologised. The faking of bank statements was “an action I deeply regret”, he said, but added that he felt it had “no bearing whatsoever on the personal choice by Princess Diana to take part in the interview”.
Senior BBC executives were criticised over a 1996 internal investigation that examined the mocked-up documents relating to the earl’s former employee, as it tried to determine whether or not the princess had been misled. One key piece of evidence, a note from Diana, suggesting she had not.
The report said: “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.”
Former director-general Lord Tony Hall, who was director of BBC news and current affairs when the Diana interview was screened, has apologised that the inquiry “fell well short”.
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.”
Diana’s Panorama interview in 1995 sent shockwaves through the monarchy with details about the state of her marriage to the Prince of Wales.
Earl Spencer claimed that in the weeks before the programme, Bashir showed him forged bank statements that related to alleged payments made to his sister’s former private secretary, Patrick Jephson, and another former royal household member by the security services.
The documents falsely suggested that the individuals were being paid for keeping the princess under surveillance.
Bashir also showed him mocked-up documents, relating to a former employee of the earl, that the reporter also used as he tried to gain access to the princess.
Responding to the report, Bashir said: “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.”
Bashir, who was the BBC News religion editor, announced last week he was quitting the corporation on health grounds, as he has been seriously unwell with Covid-related complications.
Lord Dyson, the former master of the rolls and head of civil justice, was appointed to look into the circumstances surrounding the 1995 Panorama interview, which famously featured Diana saying: “Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”
The investigation was launched after Earl Spencer alleged 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 the princess.
Lord Dyson has been considering if the steps taken by the BBC and Bashir were appropriate and to what extent those actions influenced Diana’s decision to give an interview.
TV watchdog Ofcom has said previously it will not launch its own investigation into the BBC Panorama controversy, but will follow the independent inquiry “closely”.
Diana’s son the Duke of Cambridge welcomed the launch of the investigation late last year, saying it “should help establish the truth behind the actions” that led to the programme.
His brother the Duke of Sussex reportedly also supported the inquiry.
The BBC previously delayed the broadcast of a Panorama investigation into the interview.
The programme was expected to air on BBC One on Monday but was postponed due to a “significant duty of care issue”, according to the broadcaster.
Bashir, who was the BBC News religion editor, left the corporation last week on health grounds.
He has been seriously unwell with Covid-19 related complications.