Yesterday's Sunday Telegraph says that senior BBC figures believed that the Palace sacked the BBC as producer of HM's Christmas Message following the Princess Diana Panorama programme. The article states:
Internal documents obtained by the Sunday Telegraph reveal that BBC bosses were convinced the loss of its exclusive rights to the Queen's Christmas broadcast was directly linked to Martin Bashir's interview with the Princess in 1995.
It goes on:
BBC memos, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show that the corporation did not accept the Palace's explanation that it was bringing ITV on board because it was keen to try out "fresh ideas".
Cor, some scoop, eh?
Shame it was all in the 2003 autobiography written by former BBC TV Managing Director Will Wyatt. In his book, The Fun Factory, Will relates how he met Robert Fellowes and Charles Anson at the Palace in early 1996 to discuss the broadcast. (The Diana Panorama interview went out in late 1995). They told him that they felt that they wanted to test the market and give ITN a chance.
Will says he replied:
I see, Robert....Your motto here is "don't get mad, get even"
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