Viewers of Netflix drama, The Crown will have the chance to relive a crazy period from Royal family history. According to reports, Princess Diana's ’95 Panorama interview with disgraced journalist, Martin Bashir is set to be dramatized in the next series.
BBC journalist, Bashir famously interviewed Lady Di, when he coaxed her into speaking candidly about her marriage to Prince Charles. Diana dropped the mother of all bombshells when she famously replied, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”
This year, the interview made headlines again, following a report detailing BBC’s cover up of the “deceitful behaviour” Bashir used to secure the interview. Bashir’s actions led Prince William to reveal the interview “contributed significantly” to his mother's “fear, paranoia and isolation”.
Filming for the next series of The Crown is under way, with Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki portraying Charles and Diana. The lavish series has dramatised the Royal Family from the Queen's wedding in 1947 - with different actors portraying the royals over the years – and introducing Diana in series four.
Sources of The Sun report that an insider of the show has said creators see the infamous Panorama interview as “the keystone moment in series five. To the writers, the stormy marriage between Charles and Di led up to her outpouring on Panorama, and the aftermath of that decision defined her final months.
“They are making a huge investment in that. The Crown has a track record of delving into areas of the Royal Family's history they'd rather be left alone.”
Lord Dyson’s 2021 report on the Panorama interview concludes that Bashir was in “serious breach” of the BBC's producer guidelines. The disgraced reporter faked bank statements and showed them to Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, in order to gain access to the princess for the interview.
With the report’s findings, both Harry and William released statements condemning the actions of the BBC. William stated that, “It brings indescribable sadness to know that the BBC's failures contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation that I remember from those final years with her.”
Following the damning report, the BBC did write to the Royal Family to apologise for the circumstances which surrounded the interview. However, Bashir’s half-hearted “sorry” to Harry and William clouds that apology as he stopped somewhat short of admitting to his dubious actions towards their mother.
Season 4 of Netflix drama, The Crown is set to air in November 2022.
