BBC "misled the public over Martin Bashir in Panorama scandal": report

While members of the Royal Family rarely comment on public affairs or media stories, both Prince Harry and Prince William have not held back about their feelings on the infamous Panorama interview with their late mother, Princess Diana, and Martin Bashir. Now, there is even more for the family to be upset over: According to a new report, the BBC was involved in a major cover-up over the journalist's health. 

According to the report, the BBC misled the public about the health of Bashir, so that they wouldn't have to reveal information about the interview. At the time, the network maintained that Bashir was too "seriously unwell" to be questioned. 

Due to Bashir's reported ill health, in the fall of 2020, the network found a legal loophole so they wouldn't have to disclose more than 3,200 relevant emails under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI). They claimed that the journalist was battling "COVID-19-related implications."

The Telegraph claims to have seen emails demonstrating that he was capable of coherently discussing matters related to the accusations and that the BBC was not being honest about the state of his health at the time. 

"Unfortunately we are hampered at the moment by the simple fact that we are unable to discuss any of this with Martin Bashir," the BBC stated in November 2020. Two days following the statement, Bashir denied knowledge of forged bank statements to bosses in emails. And then, three days later, he was pictured arriving home after picking up takeout food. 

Bashir was also asked in October 2020 by Director of news content Richard Burgess about reportedly being "seen in a club." He also asked him about a note that Princess Diana may have given him after the interview. He responded to the note but according to The Telegraph, the paragraph about the club appearance was redacted. The emails also show that Fran Unsworth, the BBC's director of news and current affairs, knew about the emails.