BBC reporter Martin Bashir’s interview conducted with the late Princess Diana 25 years ago was obtained by lies, deceit and schemes, a report by Lord Dyson has concluded.

In the Panorama interview, Princess Diana famously said, “there were three people in the marriage and that it was a bit crowded.”

It now transpires that Bashir used false statements and “fabricated an elaborate but false account,” to draw Princess Diana in.

READ: Prince William says BBC failed Diana with interview deceit

Bashir who once interviewed Michael Jackson, used false bank statements to land the interview with his deceitful behaviour now uncovered.

This is a shocking blow to journalism and seriously undermines the credibility of the BBC who employed Bashir for years.

Judge Lord Dyson’s report read: “Mr. Bashir deceived and induced him (Earl Spencer) to arrange a meeting with Princess Diana. By gaining access to Princess Diana in this way, Mr. Bashir was able to persuade her to agree to give the interview. This behaviour was in serious  breach of the 1993 edition of the BBC’s Producer Guidelines on straight dealing.

“Lord Hall could not reasonably have concluded as he did that Mr. Bashir was an honest and honourable man. The BBC had without justification covered up Mr. Bashir’s tracks and thereby fell short of the high standards of integrity and transparency which are its hallmark.”

After securing the Princess Diana interview, Bashir’s stock rose across the world and it wasn’t long before the big American TV networks came calling.

He became the host of the ABC late-night programme “ Nightline” before joining cable news company MSNBC in 2010.

The Englishman was forced to resign from MSNBC after he made some uncalled for withering remarks on air against former running mate of presidential candidate John Mc Cain, Sarah Palin, saying she deserved an 18^th century dose of discipline.

“After making an on-air apology, I asked for permission to take some additional time out around the Thanksgiving holiday.

“Upon further reflection and after meeting with the president of MSNBC, I have tendered my resignation. It is my sincere hope that all of my colleagues at this special network, will be allowed to focus on that matter without the distraction of myself or my ill-judged comments,” he said back then.

He subsequently returned to the BBC where he recently served as its religion editor but resigned earlier this month before the publishing of Lord Dyson’s findings.

In November of last year, Princess Diana’s brother the Earl, Charles Spencer said on Twitter: “I knew that Martin Bashir used fake bank statements and other dishonesty to get my sister to do the interview.”

The Director-General of the BBC at the time of Bashir’s Panorama interview with Princess Diana, Lord Birt said today: “We know now that the BBC harboured a rogue reporter on Panorama who fabricated an elaborate detailed but wholly fake account of his dealings with Earl Spencer and Princess Diana.

“This is a shocking blot on the BBC’s enduring commitment to honest journalism and it is a matter of the greatest regret that it has taken 25 years for the truth to emerge.”

Martin Bashir responded to the findings of the damning inquiry, intimating that many of the allegations made against him can be disproved.

The journalist who was an international sensation, hailed as the next David Frost said: “This is the second time that I have willingly fully co-operated with an investigation into events more than 25 years ago. I apologised then, and I do so again now, over the fact that I asked for bank statements to be mocked up. It was a stupid thing to do and was an action I deeply regret. But I absolutely stand by the evidence I gave a quarter of a century ago, and again more recently.

“At the time I was approached for comment, Lord Dyson’s report had not yet been published and I was restricted from responding due to confidentiality obligations that I owe to the BBC and to Lord Dyson which I take seriously. As a result I have been unable to provide a detailed response to the allegations except to say that I consider there to be cogent evidence that casts doubt on even disproves many of the allegations and I will provide further information when I am able to do so.”