Martin Bashir is making headlines again after the BBC released new emails from 2020, in which the journalist blamed professional jealousy for the controversy surrounding his explosive 1995 interview with Princess Diana for Panorama.
Around 3,000 emails relating to the interview were made public after a freedom of information (FOI) request.
In a 2020 email, Martin told the head of BBC History, Robert Seatter, that forged documents played no part in securing the interview. He wrote: "I am sorry to hear that this so-called 'forgery' story has reared its head again. It played no part in the interview but did allow professional jealousy, particularly within the corporation, to hang its hat on alleged wrongdoing.
"At the time, it was also apparent that there was some irritation that a second-generation immigrant of non-white, working class roots should have the temerity to enter a Royal Palace and conduct an interview. It would have been so much easier if one of the dynastic families (Dimbleby et al) had done it!"
As Martin is thrust back into the spotlight, find out what happened to the former BBC employee after the interview aired.
After Martin's interview with Diana was broadcast in November 1995, it was hailed "the scoop of the generation" and even won a BAFTA in 1996, making the journalist a household name across the world.
Martin went on to secure major interviews with huge stars in the subsequent years, including Louise Woodward, George Best, Michael Barrymore and the five suspects in the Stephen Lawrence murder case.
It was his 2003 interview with Michael Jackson in the documentary, Living with Michael Jackson, that thrust him back into the spotlight, however. Martin spent eight months with the singer, giving the world an insight into life at his Neverland home. Following controversy raised from the documentary, Jackson was charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of intoxicating a minor with alcohol, all of which he was acquitted of in 2005.
© Photo: Getty ImagesMichael said he felt "betrayed" by Martin after the documentary aired, and after his death in 2009, his manager from 1996 to 2003, Dieter Wiesner, said of the musician's response to the film: "It broke him. It killed him. He took a long time to die, but it started that night. Previously the drugs were a crutch, but after that they became a necessity."
Between 2004 and 2016, Martin worked in New York, landing a position as an anchor for ABC's Nightline before going on to host his own programme on MSNBC and work as a correspondent for NBC's Dateline.
In 2013, he resigned from his role at MSNBC over controversial remarks he made about former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.
The journalist later returned to the BBC in 2016 as a religious affairs correspondent.
© Photo: RexBBC investigation into Panorama interview
In 2020, 25 years after the interview first aired, BBC director general Tim Davie apologised to Charles Spencer, Diana's brother, for the use of fake bank statements which suggested that people were being paid to keep the princess under surveillance.
Matt Wiessler, the graphic designer who created the fake bank statements, said in 2020 that he had been made a scapegoat after a 1996 internal BBC investigation cleared Martin of any wrongdoing.
Charles rejected Tim's apology and demanded an inquiry. On 18 November 2020, the BBC announced an independent investigation, headed by former Supreme Court judge John Dyson.
© GettyIn May 2021, the inquiry found the journalist guilty of using "deceitful methods" and breaching BBC editorial conduct to secure the interview. The report said that Martin lied repeatedly to several people, including at the BBC.
While the Metropolitan Police announced that they would not be launching a criminal investigation into the interview, the BAFTA it had won was returned by the BBC.
© Photo: RexMartin issued his own statement in response to the report. "I apologised then, and I do so again now, over the fact that I asked for bank statements to be mocked up. It was a stupid thing to do and was an action I deeply regret." he said, before claiming that "the bank statements had no bearing whatsoever on the personal choice by Princess Diana to take part in the interview."
Where is Martin Bashir now?
At the time of the inquiry in May 2021, Martin resigned from his role as the BBC's religion editor, citing health issues. It was reported that the veteran journalist had been seriously unwell due to complications from Covid-19, and had undergone heart surgery in late 2020.
Martin shares three children with wife Deborah, whom he lives with in Hampshire.
