MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: The BBC must pay for its failures

By MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT

Published: | Updated:

The BBC is in discussions with members of the Royal Family about atoning for its once-vaunted interview of Princess Diana by Martin Bashir, now discredited. 

There is talk of some of the profits made by the Corporation through this event being paid to charity. 

It is an intriguing idea and might well be a way of bringing some sort of justice out of this sad and cautionary tale.

The news has sent shockwaves through the beleaguered Corporation, which has been rocked by the Martin Bashir Diana documentary scandal, in which it was revealed that the Princess agreed to her famous Panorama interview in 1995 (above) under false pretences

The BBC is in discussions with members of the Royal Family about atoning for its once-vaunted interview of Princess Diana by Martin Bashir, now discredited. There is talk of some of the profits made by the Corporation through this event being paid to charity

But if the BBC can pay up in this case, how many of its other actions, including its long promotion of Jimmy Savile and its failure to deal with it properly once exposed, might not also be addressed through some sort of charitable payment?

Britain's national broadcaster has in recent years been a poor steward of its great inheritance. 

Perhaps this is the way to restore it to its old standing.

BBCMartin BashirRoyalsPrincess Diana

Most watched News videos