The BBC Dossier That Could Prove Cover-Up of Bashir's Diana Deception
Before the infamous Panorama interview that trapped Princess Diana on primetime TV through lies, Martin Bashir was relatively unknown in media circles. However, he possessed a charm that was both inventive and irresistible, excelling at winning people over.
“Like a snake charmer, he was fantastic at looking in your eyes and telling you, 'You're brilliant!' He was terrific at doing sincerity.”
His skill at deception became clear when he joined Panorama and approached Tom Mangold, a veteran reporter with 30 years of BBC experience. Mangold, who had reported on many scandals and produced over 120 Panorama films, considered himself adept at spotting frauds.
“One day Martin took me to one side and said, 'Mr Mangold, I'm sorry to trouble you, but 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.”
What Mangold later discovered was that Bashir told the exact same story to Mike Nicholson at ITV and to John Humphrys. Bashir aimed to rise to celebrity journalist status and felt he needed a major breakthrough to join the media elite.
Summary
Martin Bashir’s manipulative charm helped him deceive seasoned journalists, enabling his rise through a calculated web of lies and imitation.