Entertainment • Journalist

Martin Bashir

Martin Henry Bashir is a British former journalist and television presenter known for his BBC Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales in 1995.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Martin Henry Bashir is a British former journalist and television presenter known for his BBC Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales in 1995. His career included work for British and U.S. broadcasters, but it later became associated with findings that he used deception and forged documents to secure the Diana interview.

Early life and background

Martin Henry Bashir was born on 19 January 1963 in Wandsworth, London, England. Sources describe him as British and of Pakistani background.

Broadcasting career

Bashir worked as a journalist and presenter for British and American broadcasters, including the BBC, ITV, ABC, NBC, and MSNBC. His career included reporting, anchoring, and current-affairs interviewing.

Diana interview and controversy

He became internationally known for the 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales. Later investigations concluded that he used deceptive tactics and fake documents to obtain the interview.

Later career and resignation

After leaving the BBC in 1999, Bashir worked in U.S. television before returning to the BBC as religious affairs correspondent in 2016. He resigned from the BBC in 2021.

Key facts

Bashir was born in London in 1963 and worked as a journalist in the United Kingdom and the United States.
He became widely known for securing the 1995 BBC Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.
The interview later became the subject of investigations that found Bashir used deceptive methods, including forged documents, to obtain access.
He worked for major broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, ABC, NBC, and MSNBC.
Bashir resigned from the BBC in 2021 amid health issues after renewed scrutiny of the Diana interview.

🍁

Canadian context

Bashir is of interest to Canadian readers mainly as an international media figure whose Diana interview became a major example of journalism ethics and broadcaster accountability.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Martin Bashir?

Martin Bashir is a British former journalist and television presenter best known for his 1995 BBC interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.

Why is Martin Bashir notable?

He gained international attention for the Panorama interview with Diana, which later became controversial because of findings that he used deception to secure it.

What was the Diana interview controversy?

Investigations found that Bashir used forged documents and other deceptive methods to gain Diana’s trust and arrange the interview.

Which broadcasters did Martin Bashir work for?

He worked for the BBC, ITV, ABC, NBC, and MSNBC during his career.

Did Martin Bashir work in the United States?

Yes. He worked for U.S. broadcasters including ABC, NBC, and MSNBC.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Bashir
Supports: Birth date, British former journalist, Diana interview, and general career overview
Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Bashir
Supports: Birth details, British journalist description, and Diana interview significance
Sky News — https://news.sky.com/story/who-is-martin-bashir-the-bbc-journalist-at-the-heart-of-the-princess-diana-interview-scandal-12128355
Supports: Career timeline, broadcasters worked for, and resignation from the BBC
BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-57141697
Supports: Dyson inquiry findings, deceitful conduct, and work history
i — https://inews.co.uk/news/martin-bashir-now-bbc-diana-interview-scandal-2881801
Supports: Return to the BBC in 2016, resignation in 2021, and career chronology