Lord Dyson to lead independent investigation into Panorama Diana interview

Broadcaster appoints peer once second most senior judge in England and Wales to oversee probe

The BBC has approved the appointment of Lord John Dyson to lead an independent investigation into the circumstances around Princess Diana’s Panorama interview.

Fresh questions have emerged over the lengths journalist Martin Bashir went to secure the interview 25 years ago in which the princess took a match to Windsor protocol with her frankness, suggesting there were “three of us” in her “crowded” marriage with Prince Charles, and admitting to her own affair with army captain James Hewitt.

In allegations stoked by a trio of new documentaries, the Princess’s brother Earl Spencer has accused Mr Bashir, then a relatively unknown journalist at the current affairs programme, of using fake documents to convince him to encourage her to take part in the interview.

On Wednesday, the BBC Board backed Lord Dyson — formerly the second most senior judge in England and Wales — to lead an independent probe into the matter.

The investigation will consider if the steps taken by the BBC and Mr Bashir were appropriate and to what extent those actions influenced Diana's decision to give an interview.

It will also investigate what knowledge the BBC had in 1995 and 1996 of “mocked-up bank statements purporting to show payments to a former employee of Earl Spencer (and) the purported payments to members of the Royal Households,” the corporation said.

The BBC has claimed Diana had written a note saying she did not see the false bank statements and that they played no part in her decision to give the interview. However, the corporation said it no longer has a copy of the letter.

“The BBC is determined to get to the truth about these events and that is why we have commissioned an independent investigation,” said the national broadcaster’s new director-general, Tim Davie.

“Formerly Master of the Rolls and a Justice of the Supreme Court, Lord Dyson is an eminent and highly respected figure who will lead a thorough process.”

Lord Dyson said in a statement that he would start the “important” investigation “straight away”, adding: “I will ensure it is both thorough and fair”.

The Commons media committee chair, Julian Knight MP, hailed the probe as “the right way to proceed”.

“The DCMS Committee has no plans to hold its own inquiry into this matter, however we will review the outcome and reserve a decision on whether any further action should be taken at that point,” Mr Knight told MPs.

Mr Bashir, now the broadcaster’s religious affairs correspondent, is unwell and currently unable to comment on the allegations.

The BBC has said he is recovering from quadruple heart bypass surgery and has significant complications from having contracted coronavirus earlier this year.

Additional reporting by PA