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A playwright behind a new theatre production about Princess Diana’s Panorama interview with Martin Bashir has claimed the disgraced BBC journalist ‘coached’ her into saying certain phrases during the infamous discussion about her marriage to Prince Charles.
Jonathan Maitland, writer of The Interview, told the Telegraph he had spoken to crew members who worked with Bashir on the project and is ‘absolutely satisfied’ he trained her in responses for up to six months.
One member of staff is said to have told Maitland how Bashir met with the then-Princess of Wales on many occasions before the 1995 interview, including over pesto pasta, at her Kensington Palace apartment and during car rides in the countryside.
This now stands to be recreated on stage as the play, set to debut at the end of this month in London, gives ‘an insight into the story behind the interview: the woman who gave it, the man who made it happen and the institution that broadcast it’.
Bashir resigned from the BBC in 2021 as new evidence came to light showing how he forged bank statements in order to mislead Princess Diana and entice her to agree to an interview.
Yolanda Kettle, who previously starred in Netflix ‘s The Crown as the wife of inventor Jeremy Fry, will play Diana, as Saving Christmas Spirit star Tibu Fortes takes on the role of former BBC journalist Bashir in The Interview at London ‘s Park Theatre
The play comes two years after a report by Lord Dyson concluded that the BBC had covered up ‘deceitful behaviour’ by Bashir, who used fake documents to earn the Princess’s trust
The Interview will depict how Bashir coached her to say certain phrases, such as in reference to former army officer James Hewitt: ‘Yes, I adored him. Yes, I was in love with him.’
Mr Maitland, who previously worked as a journalist, told the Telegraph: ‘I am absolutely satisfied from talking to crew members and those who knew Bashir well that he helped coach her.’
His play uses Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell as its narrator and covers the build up to the interview, as well as the interview itself.
It will use around two minutes of dialogue from the interview, a move likely to frustrate palace bosses after Prince William appealed for it to never be aired again.
The play also details events after the interview, examining how much BBC bosses knew about Bashir’s conduct.
Yolanda Kettle, who previously starred in Netflix’s The Crown as the wife of inventor Jeremy Fry, will play Diana, while Saving Christmas Spirit star Tibu Fortes takes on the role of former BBC journalist Bashir in The Interview at London’s Park Theatre, which starts at the end of this month.
Former journalist Jonathan Maitland, who was behind The Last Temptation Of Boris Johnson and An Audience With Jimmy Savile, wrote the production.
Michael Fentiman – who worked on a musical version of Olivier-nominated Amelie – serves as director.
New images show the actress playing Princess Diana in costume and make-up for a play about her sensational 1995 Panorama interview with disgraced journalist Martin Bashir
Photos of the star (left), 34, show her pensively looking into the camera as she sports what appears to be a replica of the late Princess of Wales ‘s blazer and skirt ensemble. Pictured right, Diana
The play is described as giving ‘an insight into the story behind the interview: the woman who gave it, the man who made it happen and the institution that broadcast it’.
Jonathan has also in past said that ‘substantial chunks’ of the interview would not be used for copyright reasons and out of respect for Diana’s eldest son, the Prince of Wales.
The play comes two years after a report by Lord Dyson concluded that the BBC had covered up ‘deceitful behaviour’ by Bashir, who used fake documents to earn the Princess’s trust.
It led to a furious William, 41, demanding a boycott of the 1995 interview, blasting Bashir’s ‘lurid and false claims’ to fuel the ‘paranoia and isolation’ of his mother’s final years.
‘The things that led to the famous interview and the events that came after it revealed much about our country and its institutions,’ Jonathan said of the historic event.
‘It’s definitely the stuff of drama and I can’t wait to see our superb cast and brilliant director Michael Fentiman bring it all to life.’
Also in the cast is Finding Alice star Matthew Flynn as former royal butler-turned-I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! contestant Paul Burrell, Belgravia star Naomi Frederick as a character called Luciana Dyson and Spotless actor Ciaran Owens as Matt Wiessler.
The Interview runs from October 27 to November 25 at the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park, London.
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