THE BBC is facing a major shake-up to ensure the Martin Bashir Panorama scandal can “never happen again” as Ofcom says “questions need to be asked”.
A blistering report found Bashir forged bank statements, told Princess Diana she was being spied on and that Prince Charles was having an affair to “deceive” her into giving her bombshell interview in 1995.
Bashir spun malicious tales in a bid to win her trust and secure the world-exclusive interview amid her divorce from Prince Charles, Lord Dyson’s report found.
Ministers are now said to be considering plans for the BBC to establish a new board made up of former journalists, which would oversee complaints over the broadcaster’s coverage, the Telegraph reports.
The new board would oversee editorial output amid concerns that the existing structures are heavily dominated by “corporate” figures rather than journalists, according to the report.
And Ofcom’s chief executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, said the situation must “never be repeated”.
“Lord Dyson’s findings are clearly of great concern and raise important questions about the BBC’s transparency and accountability,” she said.
“As the BBC’s independent regulator, Ofcom is considering the report, and will be discussing with the BBC what further actions may be needed to ensure that this situation can never be repeated.”
Director-general Tim Davie has written to staff at the BBC and said “lessons must be learnt” following the publication of the report.
In an internal email, Davie said people across the BBC felt “deeply let down” by the contents of the 127-page document, which found the corporation covered up “deceitful behaviour” used by journalist Bashir.
He said the findings were “particularly upsetting” given the broadcaster’s commitment to fair and honest journalism.
His comments come as the Duke of Cambridge made his first public appearance, in Edinburgh, since both he and his brother, the Duke of Sussex, issued scathing statements regarding the report.
William said the interview had fuelled his mother’s “fear, paranoia and isolation” in the final years of her life and damaged her relationship with Charles.
Harry also hit out at the corporation, saying: “The ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices ultimately took her life.”
‘OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED’
During a visit to Portsmouth today, Boris Johnson said he was “obviously concerned” by the inquiry’s findings”.
“I can only imagine the feelings of the royal family and I hope very much that the BBC will be taking every possible step to make sure nothing like this ever happens again,” he said.
Former director of BBC News James Harding, who held the post when Bashir was rehired to the broadcaster in 2016, apologised today and said responsibility for the journalist returning to the corporation “sits with me”.
And former BBC executive Tim Suter, who was part of the 1996 internal investigation, stepped down from his current board role with media watchdog Ofcom today in the wake of the damning report.
Meanwhile, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairman Julian Knight said he was writing to Davie to ask why Bashir had been allowed to return.
He said: “In the wake of the Dyson report there are serious questions still left to answer. Namely, why was Martin Bashir rehired, with the BBC knowing what they knew? I am writing to the BBC’s director-general Tim Davie for urgent answers.
“I want to know how the BBC can reassure the committee that there could be no repeat of the serious failings that have been highlighted by the Dyson report.
“Now more than ever the BBC must show transparency and honesty in its response. We, the committee, will be discussing these issues when we meet in a private session.”
