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Earl Charles Spencer thanks journalist Andy Webb for Diana investigations

After working for years to uncover the BBC’s Panorama deceit, Earl Spencer has taken to Twitter to respond to today’s damning report.

Bella Fowler
3 min read
May 21, 2021 - 10:47AM
Prince Harry’s furious statement after Diana revelation

Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, has broken his silence after a damning report found the methods used to obtain Princess Diana’s Panorama interview were “deceitful”.

Taking to Twitter, Earl Spencer thanked journalist Andy Webb, who wrote and directed 2020 Channel 4 documentary, Diana: The Truth Behind The Interview.

“I’d like to thank the TV journalist Andy Webb for his tireless professionalism in bringing the Bashir-Panorama-BBC scandal to light,” he wrote.

“If he hadn’t have pursued this story for well over a decade, and shared his findings with me last October, today’s findings wouldn’t have surfaced.”

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Webb was instrumental in investigating the truth behind how BBC journalist Martin Bashir scored the historic chat with the ‘people’s princess’, having first started looking into the scandal back in 2007.

“There was always something not quite right about the Diana interview,” he wrote last year in a piece for the Sunday Times.

“It simply did not make sense that the BBC’s Panorama, the stolid grey lady of television journalism, had pulled off the greatest tabloid sensation of the age.”

It was found in today’s report that Earl Charles Spencer introduced Diana to Bashir after being shown false bank statements. Picture: Getty Images
It was found in today’s report that Earl Charles Spencer introduced Diana to Bashir after being shown false bank statements. Picture: Getty Images

In an article for the Daily Mail today, Webb recounted how he shared his findings with Mr Spencer, who had been “convinced there were dirty dealings, but he’d been unable to prove it”.

Mr Spencer used Mr Webb’s information to eventually unravel how Bashir used forged bank statements to convince Diana to take part in the interview.

RELATED: Journo ‘deceived’ Diana in shock findings

Earl Charles Spencer with Prince William at Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997. Picture: AFP
Earl Charles Spencer with Prince William at Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997. Picture: AFP

Earl Spencer said if he hadn’t seen the forged documents he would not have introduced his sister to Bashir, and the interview would have never happened.

The interview sent shockwaves through the royal family and around the world at the time, as Diana opened up about her failed marriage to Prince Charles and his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.

Two years after it aired, Diana died in a car accident in Paris in August 1997 when her driver was attempting to flee paparazzi.

Today, Lord Dyson – the retired judge who led the inquiry – found that Bashir seriously breached BBC rules by mocking up the bank statements, and that over the years, the BBC covered up what it had learnt about how Bashir secured the interview.

Hours before the findings were handed down, Diana’s brother shared a sweet throwback photo with his sister, writing: “Some bonds go back a very long way.”

He joins a chorus of royals, celebrities and friends of Diana’s in responding to the news.

Her sons William and Harry both issued statements shortly after the findings were handed down.

“Our mother was an incredible woman who dedicated her life to service. She was resilient, brave and unquestionably honest,” Harry wrote.

“The ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices ultimately took her life.”

The Duke of Cambridge released his own video statement, saying the BBC’s deceit “substantially influenced what my mother said” and “played on her fears and fuelled paranoia”.

“The interview was a major contribution to making my parents’ relationship worse, and has since hurt countless others,” Prince William said in the video posted to social media.

Former Good Morning Britain co-host Piers Morgan also sounded off on social media, noting the “deafening silence” from BBC journalists and “regular BBC-paid stars” in light of the findings.

He went on to praise Prince William’s response.

British TV personality India Willoughby wrote: “If this had been The Sun, they’d have to fold,” while others have called for the British government to “defund the BBC”.

Others have commented on Princess Diana’s willingness to speak her truth in the sit-down.

Bashir, 58, has also responded to the report, saying he “deeply regrets” his actions with mocking up the false bank statements.

He added that he is still “proud” of the interview.

“This is the second time that I have willingly fully co-operated with an investigation into events more than 25 years ago,” Bashir said.

Diana, Princess of Wales during the interview with Bashir aired on Panorama in 1995. Picture: BBC
Diana, Princess of Wales during the interview with Bashir aired on Panorama in 1995. Picture: BBC

“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 added: “It is saddening that this single issue has been allowed to overshadow the Princess’ brave decision to tell her story, to courageously talk through the difficulties she faced, and to help address the silence and stigma that surrounded mental health issues all those years ago.

“She led the way in addressing so many of these issues and that’s why I will always remain immensely proud of that interview.”

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/earl-charles-spencer-thanks-journalist-andy-webb-for-diana-investigations/news-story/4e22081bc421589f2bbee68de9ae8444