BBC postpones Panorama film on Princess Diana/Martin Bashir interview

[James Martin]

Well, I'm sorry it's not the Mirror or Guardian.

But do Express readers not deserve to have their views heard too? Should Auntie not be doing more to reach out to such disenfranchised people?

[valley]

Well, I'm sorry it's not the Mirror or Guardian.

But do Express readers not deserve to have their views heard too? Should Auntie not be doing more to reach out to such disenfranchised people?

I would have exactly the same concerns if it was a Mirror or Guardian poll which said that 98% of people polled wanted to keep the license fee... it is undeniably the case that there needs to be serious engagement by the BBC in relation to the license fee, but a telephone poll of some selected people where we don't know the question is not a good source of public opinion, no matter who it is!

[Brekkie]

And it's a story the Express run every few months, often with polls conducted by Defund the BBC or as part of articles where they slag off the BBC. As recently as December they had 37% support for the licence fee and 40% saying it should be a subscription service.

[Rob]

I feel that discussion is beginning to veer more towards discussion of the license fee, and not the Bashir story. If we could try to get back to the subject in hand please, that would be great.

Many thanks.

[James Martin]

I feel that discussion is beginning to veer more towards discussion of the license fee, and not the Bashir story. If we could try to get back to the subject in hand please, that would be great.

Many thanks.

Is such a topic acceptable if a review does get announced, Rob? As mentioned a bit upthread the press were getting briefed on the possibility of it happening in that short lull between Brexit and the onset of Covid-19 in the opening months of 2020.

Otherwise message recieved loud and clear.

[Rob]

Is such a topic acceptable if a review does get announced, Rob?

Yes, but in a new thread.

[johnnyboy]

There seems to be a new story brewing up around former England manager Terry Venables, relating to programmes about his time at Spurs and the ligitation with then-owner Lord Sugar.

More here...

Some damning comments from Priti Patel too.

This is not going to go away.

I do remember Panorama in particular seeming to regularly investigate El Tel.

Such a pity because I believe, with him as manager, we might have got further in France 98.

There is undoubted hypocrisy from anti-BBC politicians and newspapers about Diana, El Tel, etc. As one poster said earlier, they should clean up their own back yards first.

The fact that these scandals are being dug up from 25 years ago is a bit suspicious. It's as distasteful as the woke among us and their practice of offence archaeology.

The BBC is a worldwide and domestic treasure and I support the licence fee. However, as soon as there is a consistent supermajority in favour of its abolition, its days are numbered. I'd be surprised if the license fee is still here by the middle of next decade, regretfully.

[Keith]

On a (very) loosely related note I came across this Yes Minister clip earlier this evening, which seemed somewhat relevant.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B9tzoGFszog

[VMPhil]

Apparently an unaired edition of Arena made in 2005 to commemorate ten years since the interview was held has been circulating amongst those in the industry, according to The Times

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/5b028...186cfdd3ee

[Cassia Tuna]

Sky News is reporting that a BBC report has found no evidence that Bashir was re-hired to contain or cover up events surrounding the 1995 interview with Princess Diana.

[Cassia Tuna]

Martin Bashir: No evidence journalist rehired as cover-up - BBC report

There was no evidence journalist Martin Bashir was rehired by the BBC to cover up the circumstances around his Diana interview, a BBC inquiry has found.

The inquiry was commissioned after a report found Bashir acted in a "deceitful" way to get the interview.

The report said there was no doubt if the people involved in his hiring had known what is now known, Bashir "would have never been reappointed".

BBC director-general Tim Davie said it would reflect on the findings.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57469980

[Cassia Tuna]

Martin Bashir: Police take no action over Diana interview

Detectives will take no further action over Martin Bashir's BBC interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Metropolitan Police looked at an independent review of the methods used to obtain the 1995 interview, but had "not identified evidence of activity that constituted a criminal offence".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58576095