Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Bashir leaves BBC to work with McDonald

Jane Robins Media Correspondent
Wednesday 18 November 1998 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

MARTIN BASHIR, the BBC journalist who interviewed Diana, Princess of Wales and the former au pair Louise Woodward, defected to Granada Television yesterday. The move has prompted speculation that Granada will step up its attempts to secure the worldwide rights to an interview with Monica Lewinsky.

The Lewinsky deal is in the final stages of negotiation between the former White House intern's lawyers and Channel 4. However, it is understood Mr Bashir, renowned for securing big television interviews, willlobby Miss Lewinsky in an effort to persuade her that he, not Channel 4's Jon Snow, would be a better bet as an interviewer.

Channel 4 has agreed to pay Miss Lewinsky pounds 400,000 for the story of her affair with President Bill Clinton, and Granada is likely to have to put up a similar amount of cash to prevent its rival signing an agreement in the next few days.

It was confirmed on Monday Miss Lewinsky has agreed to a pounds 1m deal with the British author Andrew Morton to write her biography, which is expected to be published in February.

Mr Bashir's contract with Granada also means he will work with the newsreader Trevor McDonald on the station's new current affairs programme, 60 Minutes.

In the past, Mr Bashir has been criticised for being too soft in his lines of questioning, both to Princess Diana and Miss Woodward. However, the prominence of both interviews in Britain and America has meant that broadcasters have been offering high prices to secure a contract with him. Earlier this year he was offered $1.5m a year to join CNN.

While at the BBC, Mr Bashir was hamstrung in any efforts to secure the Lewinsky interview, as the corporation was not prepared to enter the bidding war. Industry insiders describe his move as a sign of a new sort of "tabloid television", in which broadcasters offer large sums to secure interviews with people in the news.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in