The upcoming play about Princess Diana’s infamous BBC Panorama interview with Martin Bashir will use a “very limited number of quotes” for legal reasons – after Prince William called for the exchange never to be aired again

An upcoming piece about Princess Diana’s infamous BBC Panorama interview with Martin Bashir will use a “very limited” number of quotes for legal reasons after Prince William vowed the exchange would never air again.

Just two or three lines from the disgraced interview will be used in the production, said creator Jonathan Maitland, who worked with Bashir at the BBC and ITV.

The former journalist, who also wrote The Last Temptation Of Boris Johnson, insisted he would not use “substantial parts” of the interview due to the Prince of Wales’ opinion and copyright.

He said: “On the advice of lawyers we can use a very limited amount of these, so two or three lines – but only those that are well known and famous enough to be in the public domain as historical quotes, such as ‘There were three of these .'”us in this marriage’.

The play comes two years after a report by Lord Dyson concluded that the BBC had covered up “fraudulent conduct” by Bashir, who had used forged documents to gain Princess Diana’s trust.

A forthcoming piece about Princess Diana’s infamous BBC Panorama interview with Martin Bashir will use a “very limited” number of quotes for legal reasons

Author and former journalist Jonathan Maitland (pictured) insisted he would not use “substantial parts” of the interview due to the Prince of Wales’ opinion and copyright

This led to Prince William furiously calling for a boycott of the 1995 interview and criticizing Bashir’s “lurid and false claims” to stoke the “paranoia and isolation” of his mother’s final years.

The production, directed by Royal Shakespeare Company professional Michael Fentiman, will premiere next month at the Park Theater in Finsbury Park, London.

It is described as giving “a glimpse of the story behind the interview: the woman who gave it, the man who made it possible, and the institute that broadcast it”.

Mr Maitland added: “She very often tries to decide whether or not to do the interview and if so, what to say.”

“Then there’s still part of the interview, but with some bypassing … and then there’s a lot of the aftermath and the ensuing scandal and the crash of Bashir.”

Paul Burrell, Princess Diana’s former royal butler-turned-I’m A Celebrity star, is also played by an actor as a “fourth-wall-breaking narrator.”

Last year, hit Netflix series The Crown was criticized for being “too friendly” in presenting the Panorama interview. Critics claimed the reality of the betrayal was “far worse” than the screen portrayal.

Prince William called for a boycott of the 1995 interview after Lord Dyson’s report and slammed Bashir’s “lurid and false claims” for fueling the “paranoia and isolation” of his mother’s final years

Prince Harry’s decision to use footage of the interview in his Netflix documentaries came despite both brothers previously criticizing the BBC over the interview. Pictured: The brother is dating after the death of the Queen

Andy Webb, who previously spoke out against the BBC’s treatment of the former Princess of Wales, spent years trying to get to the bottom of Bashir’s interview.

While praising The Crown’s overall account of the incident, he said some aspects of the account of the “evil deception campaign” could be improved.

In November, he wrote in the Telegraph that the scenes had been “carefully researched” and showed how “terrible” the deception was, but felt it fell short by portraying Bashir himself as the “lone assassin”. who had deceived his bosses as thoroughly as the princess herself’.

He argued that he believed several people at the BBC were also involved in covering up Bashir’s deception.

Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also been criticized for using elements of the interview in their explosive Netflix documentaries Harry & Meghan, which aired last November.

In the middle of the first episode of the series, excerpts are shown of Princess Diana talking to the journalist.

Footage of Princess Diana’s interview with Martin Bashir was featured in the Harry and Meghan Netflix documentaries

Journalist Andy Webb, who worked for the BBC, said The Crown was “too kind” in portraying the deception. Pictured: Elizabeth Debicki and Prasanna Puwanarajah as Diana and Bashir in season five of The Crown

The final series of The Crown features a four-minute rendition of the 1995 interview, although Prince William had asked that it “never be aired again” when the Dyson Report found Bashir had exploited Princess Diana’s paranoia

Sources close to the Prince of Wales at the time said he was “angry” that his brother appeared to ignore his request that the Panorama interview never be aired again.

“Unfortunately, it shows once again that the gulf between the two brothers couldn’t be greater,” one told the Mirror.

Before the clip is shown, Harry says of his mother’s struggles with press intrusion, “I think she experienced firsthand how difficult this life was for her.” She felt compelled to speak out .

“Especially in this Panorama interview. I think we all know now that she was deceived into giving the interview. But at the same time she spoke the truth about her experience.’

In the Panorama interview clip used in the Netflix episode, Diana says, “I find the interest to this day daunting and phenomenal.” Because actually, I don’t like being the center of attention.

“When I have my public duties, I understand that I’ll be photographed getting out of my car.” But the fact is that now, walking out of my door, my front door, I’m being photographed. “I never know where a lens is going to be.”

The decision to use the footage came despite both brothers previously criticizing the BBC for the interview.

Prince Harry called the exchange “unethical” following the release of Lord Dyson’s report.

At the time, he thanked those who had “taken some form of responsibility” for “owning it,” but said, “The effects of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices were ultimately felt.” [Diana’s] Life’.

Both brothers received letters from the BBC with “unconditional apologies” for Bashir’s behavior and the 25-year cover-up.