The theory that Martin Bashir was rehired by the BBC to cover up events surrounding his Panorama interview with Princess Diana is “completely unfounded”, a review has found.

An investigation has concluded that no one involved in Mr Bashir‘s recruitment in 2016 had knowledge of all of the matters contained in the Lord Dyson report released earlier this year, which criticised the methods used by the journalist to secure his bombshell 1995 interview.

The Dyson report had also suggested the BBC had failed to uphold “governance, accountability and scrutiny”.

Mr Bashir returned to the broadcaster as religion correspondent in 2016, some two decades after the Panorama episode that made him a household name in journalism and 17 years after he originally left for ITV. He was promoted to religion editor in 2018, but quit citing health issues ahead of the Dyson report being published.

The review of his rehiring by Ken MacQuarrie stated: “I have found no evidence that Martin Bashir was re-hired to contain and/or cover up the events surrounding the 1995 Panorama programme. In my view, that theory is entirely unfounded.”

Mr MacQuarrie found that while there were “some shortcomings in the process” by which Mr Bashir was re-employed, “I am satisfied that that he was ultimately appointed because his knowledge and experience were considered to be the best match to the requirements for the role at that time”.

In response to the review’s findings, BBC Director-General Tim Davie said: “While the report finds processes were largely followed at the time, it is clear we need to reflect on the findings to ensure consistent best practice is applied in our recruitment.

“Finally, it is without doubt that had the organisation been aware of what is now publicly known because of the Dyson Report Martin Bashir would have never been reappointed.”

The Dyson report, published in May, found that Mr Bashir “deceived and induced” Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer to secure his interview, and that by producing fake bank statements he made a “serious breach” of BBC guidelines.

In response to the Dyson report, Mr Bashir apologised and said the faking of bank statements was a “stupid thing to do. But in an interview he said he did not believe he harmed Diana “in any way” and stopped short of admitting that he duped the princess.

He told The Sunday Times: “Everything we did in terms of the interview was as she wanted, from when she wanted to alert the palace, to when it was broadcast, to its contents… My family and I loved her.

“I don’t feel I can be held responsible for many of the other things that were going on in her life, and the complex issues surrounding those decisions.”

Prince William has said the BBC’s failures surrounding the interview with his mother “contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation” – and the episode should never be broadcast again.

Prince Harry criticised the media following the publication of the Dyson report, saying “practices like these – and even worse – are still widespread today”.

He continued: “Our mother lost her life because of this, and nothing has changed.”

Featuring intimate details of Charles and Diana’s failed marriage and her life inside the Royal Family, Mr Bashir’s interview was watched by 23 million people.

Allegations about counterfeit bank statements shown to Earl Spencer – suggesting palace officials were taking money to spy on her – first surfaced not long after the interview aired. However, a BBC inquiry the following year cleared Mr Bashir of any wrongdoing.

The 2021 Lord Dyson report called the original inquiry “woefully ineffective”, and Earl Spencer said he would never have introduced Bashir to his sister had he not been shown faked documents.

Mr MacQuarrie’s review also looked into Lord Tony Hall, the former director-general of the BBC who led the internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Panorama interview, who was heavily criticised by Lord Dyson.

Lord Hall did not play a part in the decision to rehire Mr Bashir, the review found.

“I have seen no evidence to support the idea that there was sign-off of Martin Bashir by Tony Hall prior to the appointment,” Mr MacQuarrie said. “However, I consider that he would have at least known of the decision to appoint Martin Bashir.”

Related posts:

Limits on weddings in England to be scrapped from 21 June – but rules on singing and dancing remain All over-18s in England able to book jab by end of week, NHS boss expects Where should you wear face masks on public transport in England? ‘Mona Lisa’ of stamps returns to Britain for first time in 143 years ‘Email me’, says PM as he calls for ideas for his ‘levelling up’ plan – as critics attack ‘vapid’ slogan Woman who stabbed husband to death took over 999 call and refused to give aid, court hears Bravery awards for police officers following eye-gouging attack in water-logged storm drain ‘Alarming’ falls in life expectancy before COVID hit, new data shows – see where is worst in England Man dies and woman critically injured in west London stabbings Refusal to increase killer’s sentence after he strangled woman during sex is ‘ultimate victim-blaming’ Husband of Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe ends hunger strike as his daughter ‘needs two parents’ Arrests made after Extinction Rebellion protests block Lord Mayor’s Show in London