The Crown’s Bashir interview revealed: Netflix use recreation of Princess Diana’s sit-down with the disgraced journalist in trailer to plug new series – despite William’s plea for it to never air again and Harry’s deal with the platform
- Netflix teased the recreation of Princess Diana’s infamous interview with Bashir
- Featured extensively in the newly released trailer from the next series
- Shows Diana sitting down for an interview as a voiceover says ‘I won’t go quietly’
- William previously slammed the BBC interview, claiming her admissions about Palace life had triggered a ‘false narrative’
- Bashir is accused of spinning a web of deceit to land his Diana interview, including falsifying bank statements
- Earl Spencer made extraordinary claims that Bashir peddled a parade of lies to land his historic scoop
Netflix used a dramatised recreation of Princess Diana’s bombshell Panorama interview with disgraced BBC journalist Martin Bashir to advertise their new series of The Crown today – despite Prince William’s demands that the interview be taken off air.
The fifth season of the streaming giant’s popular series The Crown will include an entire episode focusing on the Royal’s controversial sit-down with Bashir in 1995, in which she sensationally said ‘there were three of us in the marriage’ – a reference to Charles and Camilla.
The interview, originally broadcast by Panorama, has since been debunked after it was revealed interviewer Bashir gained access and trust of Diana using falsified information.
It was watched by 23 million people. It is thought to have contributed to her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996 – a year prior to her fatal car crash in the Tunnel de l’Alma in Paris.
Bashir showed Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, false bank statements which suggested his former head of security had been receiving money from tabloids and the security services to spy on his sister.
However, the decision to recreate the Panorama interview puts Netflix at odds with William, who called for the groundbreaking scenes to never to be aired again.
In a trailer released today of the upcoming series, which will air from 9 November, Diana can be seen sitting down with Bashir, while a voiceover says: ‘I won’t go quietly.’
Netflix used a dramatised recreation of Princess Diana’s bombshell Panorama interview with disgraced BBC journalist Martin Bashir to advertise their new series of The Crown today – despite Prince William’s demands that the interview be taken off air
In a trailer released today of the upcoming series, which will air from 9 November, Diana can be seen sitting down with Bashir, while a voiceover says: ‘I won’t go quietly.’
The trailer heavily features the moment Diana sits down with controversial interview Bashir (pictured)
In the clip, Diana, played by Elizabeth Debicki, can be seen gazing at the camera and BBC interviewer
Last year, William hit out at Bashir’s shocking tactics – first exposed by The Mail on Sunday and later documented in a damning independent report by the former Master of the Rolls in May – to obtain his exclusive with his late mother.
The inquiry plunged the Corporation into one of the worst crises in its history, with Diana’s two sons William and Harry accusing it of ruining their mother’s life with its ‘deceitful’ interview and helping to bring about the tragic chain of events that led to her death two years later.
However, Netflix, which struck a £112million deal with Harry and Meghan after they quit royal duties, are going ahead with a special epsidoe.
Today the moment was heavily featured in the explosive trailer, which saw Diana sitting down with Bashir.
In the clip, Bashir said: ‘She opens her mouth and a grenade comes out. She wants to tear down the temple.’
William (pictured during a filmed response to the report) privately vowed to continue his battle to uncover ‘the truth’ about how his mother came to be callously duped
An inquiry by Lord Dyson in May found Bashir (pictured) had lied to obtain the interview, using ‘deceitful’ methods later covered up by a ‘woefully ineffective’ internal investigation by Tony Hall, who later became BBC director-general
The insiders previosuly said: ‘The Crown’s creators see the interview as the keystone moment in series five. To the writers, the stormy marriage between Charles and Di led up to her outpouring on Panorama, and the aftermath of that decision defined her final months.
How the BBC was finally forced to admit Bashir deceit
AUGUST 31, 1995: BBC Panorama journalist Martin Bashir meets Earl Spencer and shows him fake bank statements that freelance designer Matt Wiessler mocked up for him.
SEP 19, 1995: The Earl introduces Bashir to Princess Diana.
NOV 5, 1995: The sensational Panorama interview with Diana is broadcast.
LATE NOVEMBER 1995: Wiessler expresses concern to Panorama’s series producer that the fake bank statements may have played a role in obtaining the interview. Bashir is asked for clarification.
DEC 22, 1995: Bashir passes a note from Diana to his bosses in which she says: ‘I was not shown any documents nor given any information by Martin Bashir that I was not already aware of.’
MAR 23, 1996: Bashir admits to BBC bosses that he had lied about not showing the fake bank statements to anybody. Yet two months later, he is sent a note – signed off by Tony Hall, then head of BBC News – that his dealings with Diana were ‘absolutely straight and fair’.
APR 7, 1996: The Mail on Sunday publishes a story about the fake statements. The BBC denies they were used to obtain the interview, but Hall opens an inquiry.
APR 25, 1996: Hall tells BBC governors that Bashir commissioned fake statements because ‘he wasn’t thinking’, adding: ‘I believe he is, even with this lapse, an honest and honourable man.’ Bashir leaves the BBC, but returns in 2016 as religious affairs editor.
AUG 28, 1996: Diana’s divorce from Prince Charles is finalised.
AUG 31, 1997: Diana dies in a car crash in Paris.
NOV 3, 2020: The Daily Mail publishes a letter written by Earl Spencer in which he accuses the BBC of ‘sheer dishonesty’.
NOV 18, 2020: The BBC asks former Supreme Court Justice Lord Dyson to independently investigate the scandal.
MAY 20, 2021: Lord Dyson’s report condemns Bashir as ‘dishonest’ and criticises Hall’s investigation as ‘flawed’. Prince William condemns the BBC’s ‘incompetence’.
JUL 21, 2022: The BBC pays about £200,000 to royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke and admits she was subjected to ‘baseless’ smears by Bashir.
‘They are making a huge investment in that. The Crown has a track record of delving into areas of the Royal Family’s history they’d rather be left alone.’
Once he had gained access, Bashir told Diana a string of lies, convincing her that Prince Charles was having an affair with then royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke – now Alexandra Pettifer – and that she became pregnant and had an abortion as a result.
In a televised statement last year, William railed: ‘This Panorama programme holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again. It effectively established a false narrative which, for over a quarter of a century, has been commercialised by the BBC and others.’
An independent report found Bashir had lied to obtain the interview, using ‘deceitful’ methods later covered up by a ‘woefully ineffective’ internal investigation by Tony Hall, who later became BBC director-general.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said: ‘This would be extremely upsetting and the only protection William has is not to watch it.’
Royal commentator Margaret Holder added: ‘William was dismayed at the time. It is also embarrassing for Harry.’
According to a friend, Diana’s brother Earl Spencer claimed several crimes had been committed. He believed his vulnerable sister was spun a web of lies by Bashir who had established ‘coercive control’ over her.
By filling her mind with terrifying conspiracy theories and tricking her into the interview, he claims the rogue BBC reporter and his superiors had committed blackmail, fraud and obtaining property by deception – because the corporation cashed in when rights to the sensational interview were sold around the world.
Bashir commissioned forged bank statements in flagrant breach of BBC rules to convince Earl Spencer to introduce him to Diana, Lord Dyson concluded in his excoriating inquiry.
Bashir admitted at the time to having the documents forged, but denied ever showing them to anybody.
Matt Wiessler, a graphic artist who said back in 1996 that Bashir had asked him to forge bank documents to help earn Diana’s trust, said his career was ruined after he spoke out and was blacklisted by the broadcaster.
Around two months after the BBC interview aired, Mr Wiessler said his house was broken into and CDs containing the forged documents stolen.
He also said that work had dried up after the BBC blacklisted him, with documents released under freedom of information request backing his account up.
Bosses had issued an edict never to work with him, in part because he had spoken to the media about the documents.
Despite the fallout, it took until November 2020 for an inquiry to be established based on the Mail on Sunday’s reporting – culminating in the Dyson report.
The report slammed BBC bosses, including former director-general Tony Hall, for covering up information on how Bashir was able to secure the interview.
Bashir (left) faked bank statements to get to Diana while the BBC’s former director-general, Lord Hall of Birkenhead (right), has been accused of protecting him following his famous 1995 interview
The BBC has been plunged into one of the worst crises in its history by the explosive fallout from the scandal, with Princes William and Harry accusing the corporation of ruining their mother’s life with its ‘deceitful’ exclusive. Pictured: Diana with her sons
Left: Elizabeth Debicki playing Princess Diana in series five of The Crown. Right: Emma Corrin Played a young Princess Diana in series four
A 1996 internal inquiry into the interview was also slammed as ‘woefully ineffective’, forcing Tim Suter – another BBC boss who was part of the inquiry – to step down as chair of Ofcom.
Tony Hall also left his job as head of the National Gallery, saying that continuing in the role would be a ‘distraction’. Bashir, who was still working as the BBC’s religion editor, also quit the corporation in May this year, citing health issues.
In a televised statement delivered after Lord Dyson’s report was published, William said: ‘I would like to thank Lord Dyson and his team for the report.
‘It is welcome that the BBC accepts Lord Dyson’s findings in full – which are extremely concerning – that BBC employees: Lied and used fake documents to obtain the interview with my mother; Made lurid and false claims about the Royal Family which played on her fears and fuelled paranoia; Displayed woeful incompetence when investigating complaints and concerns about the programme; and were evasive in their reporting to the media and covered up what they knew from their internal investigation.
‘It is my view that the deceitful way the interview was obtained substantially influenced what my mother said. The interview was a major contribution to making my parents’ relationship worse and has since hurt countless others.
‘It brings indescribable sadness to know that the BBC’s failures contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation that I remember from those final years with her. But what saddens me most, is that if the BBC had properly investigated the complaints and concerns first raised in 1995, my mother would have known that she had been deceived.
‘She was failed not just by a rogue reporter, but by leaders at the BBC who looked the other way rather than asking the tough questions. It is my firm view that this Panorama programme holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again.
‘It effectively established a false narrative which, for over a quarter of a century, has been commercialised by the BBC and others. This settled narrative now needs to be addressed by the BBC and anyone else who has written or intends to write about these events.
‘In an era of fake news, public service broadcasting and a free press have never been more important. These failings, identified by investigative journalists, not only let my mother down, and my family down; they let the public down too.’
Harry added: ‘Our mother was an incredible woman who dedicated her life to service. She was resilient, brave, and unquestionably honest. The ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices ultimately took her life.
‘To those who have taken some form of accountability, thank you for owning it. That is the first step towards justice and truth. Yet what deeply concerns me is that practices like these – and even worse- are still widespread today. Then, and now, it’s bigger than one outlet, one network, or one publication.
‘Our mother lost her life because of this, and nothing has changed.
Controversy: Bashir has been accused of spinning a web of deceit to land his 1995 interview with Diana, including falsifying bank statements in order to gain access to the Royal (pictured during the interview)
‘By protecting her legacy, we protect everyone, and uphold the dignity with which she lived her life. Let’s remember who she was and what she stood for.’
The late Princess was portrayed by English actress Emma Corrin for the The Crown’s fourth series. She will be replaced by Australian star Elizabeth Debicki for series five, which is expected to document the final years of her life.
Confirming her appointment in an official statement, Debicki said: ‘Princess Diana’s spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many. It is my true privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one.’
The Crown is known for sparking controversy and it has often been reported that Royals have been left riled by storylines and inclusions on the show.
The Crown TRAILER: Shock new teaser shows Diana screeching to a halt in car chase scene and in skimpy swimsuit as she floats in a pool as Royal Family is ‘plagued by scandal’ in most controversial series yet
A brand new trailer for season five of Netflix’s The Crown has shown the royal family in crisis during the new episodes, detailing the events leading up to Princess Diana’s 1997 death.
The sneak peek shows Elizabeth Debicki, who portrays the late Princess of Wales, whizzing away from paparazzi as she drives at full speed in a tense car chase scene.
Being released on November 9, another scene from the new season displays the character floating in a pool in a skimpy swimsuit – as she battles the crisis of royal protocol and family scandal in front of the nation.
The Crown TRAILER: Shock new teaser shows Diana screeching to a halt in car chase scene and in skimpy swimsuit as she floats in a pool as Royal Family is ‘plagued by scandal’ in most controversial series yet
‘I never stood a chance’: the new trailer shows Diana in a skin-baring simwsuit as she floats in the water while appearing at a loss
Over the first three series of The Crown, the Netflix hit has become well known for bending facts to suit its narrative, and while some artistic license is inevitable, some critics have been outraged in its rewriting of history and relationships.
But in it’s most controversial series yet, the brand new trailer declares that the ‘royal family is in genuine crisis’, as it depicts at-the-time Prince Charles and Diana’s divorce.
Actress Elizabeth’s voice can be heard explaining that Diana ‘never stood a chance’ in the trailer, as shots show the royal whizzing down a street while driving a black car at high speed to avoid paparazzi.
The dramatic scene shows an overwhelmed Diana at the wheel, donning a red puffer jacket as she struggles to keep control of the wheel.
Revenge dress: It also documents the iconic moment Diana stepped out in her famous ‘revenge dress’ at the 1994 dinner at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens.
Nailed it: Originally designed by Christina Stambolian, the dress was off the shoulder and featured a royal-rule breaking hem – with Elizabeth looking the spitting image of the late royal in the new scenes
The forthcoming season five will document the events leading up to Diana’s death, but won’t reveal the tragic incident until season six -with it recently being revealed that the 1997 car crash which led to her death won’t be shown in the season.
Dubbing the fifth season as ‘the beginning of the end’, the new trailer shows Diana in a skin-baring simwsuit as she floats in the water while appearing at a loss.
It also documents the iconic moment Diana stepped out in her famous ‘revenge dress’ at the 1994 dinner at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens.
Identical: Olivia Williams’ (left) portrays Camilla Parker Bowles (right), with the trailer showing Camilla and Charles together in an intimate moment
Originally designed by Christina Stambolian, the dress was off the shoulder and featured a royal-rule breaking hem – with Elizabeth looking the spitting image of the late royal in the new scenes.
The dramatised trailer shows the royal family declaring that Diana ‘wants to bring down the temple’, before depicting her famous interview with BBC journalist Martin Bashir, played by Prasanna Puwanarajah.
Netflix used a dramatised recreation of Princess Diana’s bombshell Panorama interview with disgraced BBC journalist Bashir to advertise their new series of The Crown today – despite Prince William’s demands that the interview be taken off air.
The fifth season of the streaming giant’s popular series The Crown will include an entire episode focusing on the Royal’s controversial sit-down with Bashir in 1995, in which she sensationally said ‘there were three of us in the marriage’ – a reference to Charles and Camilla.
The interview, originally broadcast by Panorama, has since been debunked after it was revealed interviewer Bashir gained access and trust of Diana using falsified information.
Famous interview: The trailer depicts her famous interview with BBC journalist Martin Bashir (right) played by Prasanna Puwanarajah (left)
It was watched by 23 million people. It is thought to have contributed to her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996 – a year prior to her fatal car crash in the Tunnel de l’Alma in Paris.
Bashir showed Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, false bank statements which suggested his former head of security had been receiving money from tabloids and the security services to spy on his sister.
However, the decision to recreate the Panorama interview puts Netflix at odds with William, who called for the groundbreaking scenes to never to be aired again.
In the trailer, Diana can be seen sitting down with Bashir, while a voiceover says: ‘I won’t go quietly.’
Charles, portrayed by Dominic West, can also be seen with Olivia Williams’ Camilla Parker Bowles, with the trailer showing an intimate moment between the pair.
Johnny Lee Miller, who portrays former British Prime Minister John Major, says in the trailer: ‘It feels it’s all about to erupt’.
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