Princess Diana And The Bbc

[naomi24]

//Veteran broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby has openly slammed Martin Bashir over using alleged 'deception and lies' to secure an explosive interview with the 'troubled' Princess Diana in 1995.//

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8951019/Broadcaster-Jonathan-Dimbleby-condemns-Martin-Bashir-exploiting-troubled-Diana-Panorama.html

Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair, says that fake documents used to procure the interview with Martin Bashir led to Diana losing trust in the loyalty of her security officers and dismissing them. Had that not happened, Tina Brown says, Diana would still be alive.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8948539/Diana-dismissed-protection-stopped-car-crash-Bashir-statements-Tina-Brown-says.html

The BBC is launching an investigation.

Your thoughts?

[Ellipsis]

> fake documents used to procure the interview with Martin Bashir

There's no dispute that documents were faked, but there's some dispute as to whether they were actually used. The counterstory is that Bashir had them ready to use if they were needed, and they were not. Very poor journalism by Bashir, whatever the truth is.

It will be interesting to see what the investigation produces.

[Bobbisox1]

I'd read they've found a note from Diana re the cheque given, is that right?

[anneasquith]

My thoughts. The woman is dead. No point in raking up events from the past, unless off course someone will benefit financially from the alleged disclosure . ?

[pixie374]

The first link said she didn't see the fake documents before the interview and they had no part in her decision.
An inquiry might be a good idea, but to me, she seemed to be using the interview for her own purposes. Plus, I don't see how it caused the car crash.

[ParsleyDumpling]

I thought it was her brother Charles, who saw the bank statements?
This was done in order for him to secure an introduction between Bashir and Diana. Although this is all hindsight now, I can't help but feel Diana's subsequent actions and behaviour, may well have been different. Bashir appears to have behaved despicably in his pursuit of an interview with Diana, I do think an investigation is the very minimum action that should be taken.

[Peter Pedant]

they have kicked up a document ( not forged) which says that Di didnt object.
which is kinda consistent wiv Di's action at the time

so like Di I think this subject is er dead. - OK laid to rest then

[Peter Pedant]

// Although this is all hindsight now, I can't help but feel Diana's subsequent actions and behaviour, may well have been different.//

actually I think they would have been the same - screw Charles and screw the office her son will succeed to - - the monarchy

vay odd for a mother to intentionally degrade her sons rightful portion but hell this is AB and I er am no a muvva

[Old_Geezer]

If shown that these fake papers/claims were not used then, whilst it doesn't put reporters in a good light, this is just muckraking as far as this incident is concerned. Media should take the warning and look into their moral stance on such things though: put their house in order. Much more serious if used and there were major consequences.

[chelle7272]

Her brother claims they were used:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54937006
Earl Spencer called for an independent inquiry earlier this month and said he would never have introduced Bashir to his sister if he had not seen the faked bank statements.

[Canary42]

Her brother - an assured source of truth !

[agchristie]

"her security officers and dismissing them. Had that not happened, Tina Brown says, Diana would still be alive."

Thats utter tripe in itself.Thats one of those Mike Powell giant leaps (just checked he holds the long jump record!) to suggest that.

By sayin that in itself I lose respect for anythin else she claims.

Ifs and ands and all that...

[pixie374]

She agreed to do an interview in 1995, where she didnt come across well. She appeared as manipulative, sly, insincere. Two years later, she was killed in a crash by a drunk driver.
It's hard to see how any inquiry can prove that one caused the other.
Maybe it's better to see what her sons want.

[pixie374]

Cross-posted, ag, but yes.

[agchristie]

Hey Pix,file them claws down a bit ;-)

Oh,I agree with u !

[Jackdaw33]

The nearest historical parallel I can find to Diana is Henry VIII's fifth wife, Katharine Howard. Sly and manipulative, she too came to a sticky end.

[Peter Pedant]

// If shown that these fake papers/claims were not used then, whilst it doesn't put reporters in a good light,//

I thought they were window dressing BUT according to Champagne Charlie ( Di's bruvva that is!) he scrutinsed them and they were persuasive

[youngmafbog]

What is the point of the BBC investigating?

Apart from that I am not sure what is to be gained here.

[agchristie]

"What is the point of the BBC investigating?"

Well,for one thing theres the fella asked by Bashir to make up some paperwork.He needs his name clearin

[jno]

Good to see Spencer in the news again, just as he's busy promoting his latest book

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[naomi24]

//I don't see how it caused the car crash.//

It didn’t ‘cause’ the car crash. Tina Brown is saying that had Diana not dismissed her security people as a result of losing confidence in their loyalty, she wouldn’t have been in that car. They would have been around to stop her.

Whether the documents were used, or whether Bashir had them ready to use if they were needed, as per Ellipsis’ post, the question of whether they should have existed in the first place should be asked. As former chairman of the BBC, Lord Grade says, "There is a very dark cloud hanging over BBC journalism and it is a ‘very, very serious matter’. It’s not good enough to say ‘She’s dead - ignore it’, which is why the BBC is launching an investigation.