Why won't BBC release full Princess Diana interview by Martin Bashir? – Helen Martin

Princess Diana on a visit to St Paul's Church in Jarrow in May 1985Princess Diana on a visit to St Paul's Church in Jarrow in May 1985
Princess Diana on a visit to St Paul's Church in Jarrow in May 1985
It has been revealed that the hour-long Panorama interview of Princess Diana by Martin Bashir (which we saw again recently on television) wasn’t the whole story.

There’s another 20 minutes containing criticisms of the Royal Family that was edited out before its broadcast 25 years ago.

Well, that’s the BBC. Were they trying to protect themselves against Royal anger? Trying to prevent the Family from hearing it all and being offended? Were they trying to present Diana as being a sad, vulnerable, unhappy girl with no accusations or complaints, except for those about Charles and Camilla?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Read More
The Diana legacy: How the People’s Princess left her mark

We’d all like to know what she said, whether we adored her or not. Pro-Dianas, especially the millions who mourned her death, surrounded Buckingham Palace with floral tributes and sobbed at her loss would want her to have her say. The not-so-pro Royals would want to hear it. In fact, we’d all like to know the whole story.

Apparently, the Beeb have admitted they have no plans to open it up to the world. And we don’t know if they have shared it with the Queen and co either.

Their constitutional basis is, of course, the Royal Charter. Hence, they are very much a part of the British establishment, and getting less popular with people in Scotland as they seem to often ignore this part of the UK.

But if they ran the whole interview, they’d have a massive viewing rate, and I’m sure several other channels would love to get hold of the complete, 80-minute interview.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers – and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to the Edinburgh Evening News online and enjoy unlimited access to trusted, fact-checked news and sport from Edinburgh and the Lothians. Visit www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. Visit www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1873
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice