BBC Releases Internal Emails Revealing Martin Bashir's Defense Over Diana Interview Scandal

Bashir blamed 'professional jealousy' and his ethnicity for the allegations of deceit, while the BBC denies allegations of a cover-up.

Martin Bashir, the journalist who conducted the infamous 1995 interview with Princess Diana, blamed 'professional jealousy' and his ethnicity for the allegations of deceit that surrounded the interview, according to newly released internal BBC emails.
The emails were released following a court order in response to a Freedom of Information request by investigative journalist Andy Webb, who claims that BBC managers tried to cover up Bashir's actions.
In one of the emails, Bashir wrote that the controversy would have been less if a 'dynastic' journalist such as a Dimbleby had conducted the interview.
A 2021 inquiry found that Bashir had used deception and faked documents to secure the interview with Princess Diana. Bashir resigned from his role as the BBC's religion editor shortly before the publication of the inquiry's damning report.
The BBC has denied allegations of a cover-up, stating that any suggestion that it had acted in bad faith was 'simply wrong'.