Dianarama : The Betrayal of Princess Diana – 9780241784648

SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE WEEKREVEALED FOR THE FIRST TIME: THE TRUE STORY OF THE DECEPTION OF PRINCESS DIANA‘Dianarama often has the feel of a thriller… a well written, pacy book’ SUNDAY TIMES’Sensational. Vigorous, entertaining and energetic as a thriller. A shocking tale’ i’Extraordinary, a shocking list of wrongdoing. *****’ DAILY TELEGRAPH‘An amazing book…Fascinating’ PIERS MORGAN’A STORY WE WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO READ’ PATRICK JEPHSON, PRIVATE SECRETARY TO PRINCESS DIANA’AN IMPORTANT AND FORENSIC EXAMINATION’ CHARLES SPENCER’After 20 years investigating Princess Diana’s 1995 Panorama interview with Martin Bashir… the extent of his duplicity, as well as the BBC’s failings afterwards, is laid bare in this fine book’ SUN‘I spent two straight days gripped by Dianarama…It is reasonable to assume that Diana might be alive today had she known then what was revealed a quarter century later’ Sally Bedell Smith, New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth the Queen–The death of Princess Diana in August 1997 was one of the most shocking events in recent history. Many events surrounding the tragedy have been shrouded in mystery, in particular the BBC Panorama interview Diana gave to journalist Martin Bashir less than two years before she died. However, the true extent of the deception the princess experienced as well as the cover-up which ensued has never before been revealed – until now. Dianarama is the story of one of the biggest scandals in public life and broadcasting history and of the cover-up that followed to hide what happened, leaving the damaged princess to her fate. Andy Webb is the writer and award-winning filmmaker who obtained the secret files that first broke the story of Princess Diana’s betrayal. Here he offers unrivalled insider access to the key players in the drama in a thrilling first-hand narrative, putting the reader inside the room where each key decision was taken. The story takes us from the moment BBC reporter Martin Bashir first contrived his dossier of forged bank statements in 1995 to the 2024 courtroom where Webb faced the BBC’s elite legal squad to demand the release of 10,000 pages of highly contested documents relating to the scandal. A story for the ages, the fate of Princess Diana will be debated by scholars and gossips centuries from now. This book, filled with revelations which have not yet entered the public record, will become a key part in the first draft of history. ‘Sensational. A vigorous and heavily researched read. As entertaining and energetic as a thriller. Webb juggles multiple revelations and unearthed seminal documents. In his meticulous and readable style and with his newly uncovered items, it is a shocking tale’ i’Anyone who cares for honest reporting and the health of the BBC should read Dianarama. On one level it’s the definitive account of the BBC’s disastrous Martin Bashir saga and its consequences, by the man who exposed it all. It’s also a gripping tale of deceit, cover ups and that very British habit of punishing the whistleblower while promoting time-serving hacks!’ Daily Express, Books of the Year’You close the book knowing that Diana Spencer would almost certainly still be alive were it not for the BBC’s behaviour. If a member of the public like me feels, on reading this book, a fizzing rage and grief for poor Diana – what can her sons, brother and surviving sisters be feeling?’ AN Wilson, Oldie