A highly anticipated book promising unprecedented insights into the BBC’s controversial 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, is set to be released later this year—exactly 30 years after the historic broadcast aired. Titled Dianarama: Deception, Entrapment, Cover-up: The Betrayal of Princess Diana, the book is authored by journalist and former BBC reporter Andy Webb, who is credited with spearheading the exposure of the deceitful tactics used to secure the interview.
Published by Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin, Dianarama will reportedly draw on previously unseen materials, internal BBC emails acquired through a freedom of information request, and interviews with key players, including Diana’s family members. Significantly, the book has been written with the cooperation of Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, whose involvement in the original scandal remains pivotal.
Forged Documents and Royal Deception
The 1995 Panorama interview, in which Diana famously declared “there were three of us in this marriage,” referring to Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, became one of the most iconic moments in modern royal history. But decades later, the integrity of that interview has been called into question.
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A formal inquiry in 2021 concluded that journalist Martin Bashir used forged bank statements to gain access to Princess Diana through her brother, Charles Spencer. These documents falsely implied that members of Diana’s staff were being paid to spy on her. The subterfuge played a crucial role in convincing Spencer to arrange the now-infamous meeting between Bashir and Diana.
The inquiry’s findings sent shockwaves through the British public and media landscape, reigniting debate over the ethical obligations of journalism and the accountability of powerful institutions.
Diana’s Consent—and Ongoing Questions
Despite the scandal surrounding how the interview was obtained, Diana herself did not appear to express regret at the time. In a handwritten note dated December 1995, she affirmed: “I consented to the interview on Panorama without any undue pressure and have no regrets concerning the matter.”
Nevertheless, Dianarama aims to explore the broader ethical implications of the interview, and to expose what the author claims is a long-running cover-up within the BBC’s upper echelons. According to Webb and the book’s publisher, this is not just the story of one ill-gotten interview, but a “scandal of staggering proportions” that implicates senior figures within one of Britain’s most respected institutions.
Unrivalled Access and Revelatory Research
Andy Webb is uniquely positioned to tell this story. Having previously directed a 2020 Channel 4 documentary scrutinizing Bashir’s conduct, Webb continued his investigation with a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted to the BBC in 2021.
That request led to the release of over 3,000 internal emails—comprising more than 10,000 pages—exchanged among BBC executives over a three-month period in 2020. The documents provide a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the broadcaster handled the mounting pressure and scrutiny surrounding the Bashir revelations.
One of the most damning disclosures was found in an internal email dated 19 October 2019, in which a BBC lawyer advised a Panorama editor that the corporation was “not releasing all of the internal investigations documents at this present time.” According to Webb, this admission confirms a deliberate effort to withhold information, amounting to what he calls a “cover-up.”
The Role of Charles Spencer
Charles Spencer has played a significant role in bringing the truth to light. It was Spencer whom Bashir initially targeted with falsified documents, and who later became one of the most vocal critics of the BBC’s handling of the affair. His cooperation with Webb for the book adds a layer of legitimacy and access that may allow Dianarama to offer new insights unavailable in previous reporting or inquiries.
The publisher has touted Spencer’s involvement as a key endorsement of the book’s depth and accuracy, noting that Webb had access to “secret documents and key players within Princess Diana’s family as well as the BBC.”
A Publisher’s Verdict: ‘David vs Goliath’
Michael Joseph, the Penguin imprint behind the book, is positioning Dianarama as a landmark publication. “It’s rare to come across a book that presents a radical reappraisal of a major historical event, let alone one written by the individual who, through dogged perseverance, brought that history to light,” said a spokesperson for the publisher.
Calling the story a “David versus Goliath” tale, the publisher added that Webb’s investigation is an example of one lone journalist holding a prestigious institution accountable. “This is the true story of one of the biggest scandals in public life and broadcasting history.”
Publishing Date and Cultural Resonance
The book is slated for release on 20 November 2025, symbolically timed to mark the 30th anniversary of the Panorama broadcast. This strategic timing is expected to renew public interest in the affair and generate wide media coverage. As the British monarchy and its relationship with the press continue to evolve in a digital age, Dianarama may serve as both a historical account and a timely reflection on media ethics, power, and accountability.
Ongoing Legacy and Institutional Fallout
The BBC has faced significant backlash since the inquiry’s findings were made public, including public apologies from senior leadership and renewed scrutiny of editorial standards. While the corporation maintains that reforms have been implemented, critics argue that systemic issues persist.
In light of these developments, Dianarama could further challenge the BBC’s narrative and provide fresh material for renewed calls for transparency, not only within British media but across public institutions more broadly.
Conclusion: Rewriting a Moment in History
As one of the most watched and talked-about interviews of the 20th century, the Panorama broadcast with Princess Diana is etched into the global cultural memory. But Dianarama promises to reframe that moment—revealing not only the tactics used to orchestrate it but also the extent to which trust was manipulated in pursuit of a journalistic coup.
With contributions from those closest to Diana and extensive documentary evidence in hand, Andy Webb’s upcoming release may indeed offer the definitive account of a scandal that continues to reverberate through the corridors of British media and public life.
