The BBC dossier that could prove cover-up of Bashir's Diana deception

The BBC Dossier on Bashir's Diana Interview Controversy

Before the infamous Panorama interview where Martin Bashir deceived Princess Diana onto primetime TV using lies, he was relatively unknown in media circles. However, Bashir possessed a charm that was both creative and persuasive. He excelled at flattering people. A colleague described him:

“Like a snake charmer, he was fantastic at looking in your eyes and telling you, 'You're brilliant!' He was terrific at doing sincerity.”

Bashir's Deceptive Nature Revealed

Bashir’s cunning was evident when he joined Panorama and approached veteran reporter Tom Mangold, who had 30 years of BBC experience and 120 Panorama reports. Mangold, known for spotting frauds, recalled:

“One day Martin took me to one side and said, 'Mr Mangold, I'm sorry to trouble you, but I just wanted to tell you that my brother recently died and on his deathbed he said to me, "Martin, when you get to Panorama, imitate Tom Mangold. Operate like him, and you will become as successful as he is."' I was really touched."

Yet later Mangold learned Bashir had told the same story to other journalists at ITV and BBC Radio 4:

Bashir’s Ambitions

Determined to join the ranks of celebrity journalists, Bashir was willing to go to great lengths to achieve fame and success on television.

Author's Summary

Martin Bashir's charm masked a manipulative nature, exploiting deceit and flattery to climb the media ladder and secure his infamous interview with Princess Diana.

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Daily Mail Daily Mail — 2025-11-09

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