Martin Bashir
British broadcast journalist; former BBC Panorama reporter and BBC religion editor
- Entries
- 8
- On the record
- 2
- Stories
- 1
- Latest entry
- May 20, 2021
The record
Martin Bashir's record outside the Dyson findings spans British and American television. After the 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, he worked in the United States, hosting ABC's Nightline and, from 2010, anchoring for MSNBC and reporting for Dateline at NBC News. He resigned from MSNBC on December 4, 2013, about two weeks after an on-air remark about Sarah Palin, saying he deeply regretted what was said.
The questions about the Diana interview were first raised in print in April 1996, when Mail on Sunday reporters Nick Fielding and Jason Lewis reported that he had a BBC graphic designer create bank statements suggesting that Earl Spencer's former head of security had received money from News International. The BBC confirmed the documents had been created, but their significance was downplayed after an internal investigation, Press Gazette reported.
The BBC hired him back in September 2016 as religious affairs correspondent for BBC News, replacing Caroline Wyatt. When the 1996 allegations resurfaced in November 2020, Director-General Tim Davie apologised to Earl Spencer and promised a robust and independent investigation into how the interview was obtained. At that point the graphic designer who made the statements had not received an apology, Press Gazette reported.
Roles and honours on the record
Every entry, newest first
- Admitted
Bashir said making false documents 'was a stupid thing to do' but they did not sway Diana, per The Washington Post. Martin Bashir used fake bank statements, Dyson report finds
- Reported
Lord Dyson's inquiry found Bashir used deceitful behaviour and faked documents for the 1995 interview, BBC News reported. Martin Bashir used fake bank statements, Dyson report finds
- Reported
Metropolitan Police said it would not begin a criminal investigation into the Bashir interview, per The Guardian. Martin Bashir used fake bank statements, Dyson report finds
Stories in this file
The record, entry by entry
- 1996 Reported The BBC confirmed that the bank statements reported by the Mail on Sunday had been created, but their significance was downplayed following an internal investigation into whether Diana had been misled, Press Gazette reported. Press Gazette report
- 1996-04 Reported Mail on Sunday reporters Nick Fielding and Jason Lewis reported that Bashir had a BBC graphic designer create bank statements suggesting Earl Spencer's former head of security had received money from News International. Press Gazette report
- 2013-12-04 Admitted Bashir resigned as an MSNBC host about two weeks after an on-air remark about Sarah Palin, for which he had apologized on his next broadcast. In his resignation statement he said he deeply regretted what was said. Mediaite report
- 2016-09-26 Official BBC News named Bashir religious affairs correspondent, replacing Caroline Wyatt. Press Gazette report
- 2020-11 Official BBC Director-General Tim Davie apologised to Earl Spencer and pledged a robust and independent investigation into how the 1995 interview was obtained, Press Gazette reported. Press Gazette report
Documents
Sources behind this file
- BBC News report on the DCMS committee hearing
- BBC News timeline of Bashir's career and the Dyson report
- Sky News report on the reaction to the Dyson report
- The Washington Post report on the Dyson findings
- The Telegraph report on Earl Spencer's notes
- BBC News report on Bashir leaving the BBC
- The Guardian report on the Metropolitan Police decision
- The Guardian report on Lord Dyson's appointment
- Press Gazette interview with the Mail on Sunday reporters
- The New York Times report on the BBC inquiry order
- The Guardian report on Earl Spencer's demand for an inquiry