Original Groundbreaking 1995 BBC Interview with Acclaimed Journalist Martin

Bashir and Princess Diana Explored Her Marriage, Parenthood, Adultery and

Depression

Historic Conversation to be Followed by Lifetime Original Movie 'The Murder

Of Princess Diana,' Fictionalized Account of Her Death

    NEW YORK, Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Ten years after her death, Princess
 Diana remains an iconic figure to millions worldwide, the subject of more
 than 180 books into the transcendent achievements of her life and the
 circumstances of her death. Lifetime Television is marking the anniversary
 of that tragic evening of August 31, 1997, with three nights of special
 programming featuring a seminal moment in television journalism and a
 Lifetime Original Movie Event, beginning with the candid and explosive 1995
 BBC landmark interview conducted by award-winning journalist Martin Bashir,
 airing Saturday, August 25 at 8PM (ET/PT), Sunday, August 26 at 5PM (ET/PT)
 and Monday, August 27 at 11PM (ET/PT).
     During the now historic hour-long discussion -- which was her
 first-ever one-on-one sit down with the media about her personal life --
 Princess Di shared some of her most intimate secrets, which ultimately
 confirmed years of rumors and speculation, and sent shock waves throughout
 the British monarchy, Great Britain and beyond its shores.
     Following the poignant conversation will be the Lifetime Original Movie
 "The Murder of Princess Diana," which airs August 25 at 9PM (ET/PT) and
 August 26 at 6PM (ET/PT) as well as Monday, August 27 at 9PM (ET/PT).
 Starring Jennifer Morrison ("House"), the movie is a fictionalized account
 of the book by the same name by Noel Botham, which theorized that the car
 crash that claimed the lives of the Princess of Wales, her companion Dodi
 Fayed and their chauffeur Henri Paul, was a conspiracy.
     In the revolutionary BBC interview, the "People's Princess" opened up
 to Bashir about her personal and private life. She shed light on the
 breakdown of her marriage to Prince Charles and how the intense media
 scrutiny made her personal life almost unbearable. Additionally, she
 discussed her depression and eating disorder, her love affair with her
 riding trainer James Hewitt, as well as the difficulties of raising her
 children in a royal fishbowl.
     During the interview, Princess Diana said:
     -- About self-destructive behavior: "Yes, I did inflict upon myself. I
        didn't like myself. I was ashamed because I couldn't cope with the
        pressures."
     -- About her turbulent marriage: "My husband and I had to keep everything
        together because we didn't want to disappoint the public, and yet
        obviously there was a lot of anxiety going on within our four walls."
     -- About being the Queen of England: "I'd like to be a queen of people's
        hearts, but I don't see myself being Queen of this country. I don't
        think many people will want me to be Queen. Actually, when I say many
        people I mean the establishment that I married into, because they've
        decided that I'm a non-starter."
     LifetimeTV.com features two clips from the interview. In the first, the
 late Princess of Wales discusses how she found peace coming to the aid of
 those rejected by society, and in the second clip, Diana reflects on what
 she expected entering into marriage with Prince Charles and how the media
 attention weighed on her through the years. The site also features
 additional broadband video including remembrances from women on Diana's
 legacy.
     Martin Bashir was named co-anchor of ABC News' "Nightline" in October
 2005 and is based in New York. The internationally acclaimed, award-winning
 journalist joined ABC's newsmagazine "20/20" in September 2004, and
 continues to report for the program. Mr. Bashir is best known for making
 landmark documentaries, including "Living with Michael Jackson," and is
 also known for his investigative reporting for ITV, British television's
 most popular network.
     The BBC Interview with Princess Diana and Martin Bashir was originally
 part of the broadcaster's "Panorama" series. Mike Robinson was producer and
 Steve Hewlett was editor. The interview was acquired from BBC Worldwide
 America.
     "The Murder of Princess Diana" is produced by Universal TV Limited,
 formerly WTTV Limited, the television arm of Working Title Films ("United
 93," "Bridget Jones' Diary," "Pride and Prejudice") for Lifetime
 Television. Simon Wright ("Tales of the City") is the executive producer
 and Priscilla Parish ("The Robber Bride") serves as associate producer.
 Julia Stannard ("Sharpe's Challenge") is producer and John Strickland ("Big
 Love") is the director. Emma Reeves ("Doctors") and Reg Gadney ("Kennedy")
 wrote the teleplay.
     LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated
 basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME
 is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information
 programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and
 their families. LIFETIME Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime
 Digital (including LifetimeTV.com) are part of LIFETIME Entertainment
 Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt
 Disney Company.
 
 

SOURCE Lifetime