Readers respond to criticism of the corporation after Lord Dyson’s report on the 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales
Marina Hyde provides a superbly balanced, rational exposition of the “paranoia” arising from the Dyson report (They won’t remind us, but the tabloids hurt Diana just as much as Panorama did, 21 May). She examines the groups and individuals bingeing on criticisms of the BBC and Martin Bashir. She calls them out for the self-serving hypocrites they are when they denounce those involved in the securing and broadcasting of the interview with Diana, Princess of Wales. At that time, the prime emotion emanating from most of them was envy that Bashir and the BBC had “scooped” such a prize. Hyde persuasively draws attention to the guilt we all share, some with greater awareness and acceptance than others.
But in all of this discussion and polemics, let us remember that the sentiments expressed by Diana in that interview were relevant and understandable. She had, since the early days of her marriage, been subjected to duplicity and betrayal by those closest to her. Let us not forget the contribution to her alleged paranoia made by the Prince of Wales and his current wife (then Camilla Parker Bowles). Diana’s isolation and marginalisation had become unsustainable – she needed to both complain and explain. The BBC and Bashir provided the platform. They should not be pilloried by individuals (certainly not by those such as our exceedingly mendacious prime minister), nor indeed by those in the media whose record in this affair is dubious.
