The BBC is risking further fury from the royal family after allowing the Crown to film its depiction of the aftermath of the controversial Princess Diana interview with Martin Bashir at New Broadcasting House amid the fallout with the Firm over The Princes and the Press documentary.
The latest photos from the upcoming season of the Netflix drama show actor Richard Cordery, 71, dressed as Marmaduke Husssey, the former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the corporation.
Photos taken outside the BBC’s headquarters show the actor in a navy suit and red tie. It’s believed producers are filming a scene portraying events that followed Princess Diana’s controversial Panorama interview with Martin Bashir in 1995.Â
The scene is said to have recreated when Lord Hussey arrived during the fall-out from the programme in which Diana said: ‘There were three of us in this marriage.’Â
The Crown’s fifth series of the show will cover the royal family’s history throughout the 1990s. Lord Hussey, who lost a leg in the Second World War when he was just 21, was appointed BBC chairman in 1986 and served two full terms before stepping down in 1996.
Over the first four series of The Crown, the Netflix hit has become well known for bending facts to suit its narrative, and while some artistic licence is inevitable, some critics have been outraged in its rewriting of history and relationships.
The latest photos from the upcoming season of the Netflix drama The Crown show actor Richard Cordery, 71, (left) dressed as Marmaduke Husssey (right), the former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the corporation
Photos taken outside the BBC’s headquarters show the actor in a navy suit and red tie. It’s believed producers are filming a scene portraying events that followed Princess Diana’s controversial Panorama interview with Martin Bashir in 1995
MailOnline understands the filming consisted of a single shot of him walking into the building and then back out again – but nothing further inside.
The filming took place six months after a report by Lord Dyson concluded the BBC covered up ‘deceitful behaviour’ used by Mr Bashir to secure the interview.
The BBC is claimed to have given formal permission for Netflix to film outside its offices, and it is understood The Crown will also dramatise Diana’s interview itself.
A TV source told The Sun: ‘It’s unbelievable that in the middle of a major fight with William and the Royal Family over its documentary, the BBC would allow Netflix to film on their property.
MailOnline understands the filming consisted of a single shot of him walking into the building and then back out again – but nothing further inside. Cordery is seen getting in a taxi
The filming took place six months after a report by Lord Dyson concluded the BBC covered up ‘deceitful behaviour’ used by Mr Bashir to secure the interview
The BBC is claimed to have given formal permission for Netflix to film outside its offices, and it is understood The Crown will also dramatise Diana’s interview itself. Cordery is pictured filming
‘The BBC and Netflix are joining forces to do the one thing William doesn’t want — dramatising the Panorama interview which is a part of his life he has said he does not wish to revisit.’
In May, Lord Dyson’s report into Diana’s Panorama interview concluded Bashir was in ‘serious breach’ of the BBC’s producer guidelines when he faked bank statements and showed them to Earl Spencer to gain access to the princess for the interview.
Earlier this month, Earl Spencer said he rejected The Crown’s request to film at his family home of Althorp.
The forthcoming fifth series of the royal Netflix drama stars Elizabeth Debicki as his late sister, Diana, Princess of Wales.
In May, Lord Dyson’s report into Diana’s Panorama interview concluded Bashir was in ‘serious breach’ of the BBC’s producer guidelines when he faked bank statements and showed them to Earl Spencer to gain access to the princess for the interview. The Crown crew are pictured filming the aftermathÂ
Cordery is seen climbing out of the car. The BBC is risking further fury from the royal family after allowing the Crown to film its depiction of the aftermath of the controversial Princess Diana interview with Martin Bashir at New Broadcasting House amid the fallout with the Firm over The Princes and the Press documentary.
Baron Hussey was a staunch royalist and it’s believed he left the corporation after falling out with Director General John Birt over his management style and Panorama’s controversial interview
Speaking to BBC Breakfast at his family estate in West Northamptonshire, Earl Spencer said he had declined when producers of The Crown asked to film on the site.
He said: ‘They applied. They wanted to shoot here. But I don’t really do that stuff. Actually, to be honest, I don’t watch The Crown so I just said: ‘Thank you but no thank you.’
Last month it was reported Earl Spencer could bring a private prosecution over the Bashir scandal after the Metropolitan Police said it had found no evidence of criminality.
And the revelation over filming at New Broadcasting House comes a fortnight after it emerged The Crown’s producers filmed the controversial Diana revenge dress scene only 800 yards from Prince William’s bedroom at Kensington Palace
The revelation over filming at New Broadcasting House (pictured) comes a fortnight after it emerged The Crown’s producers filmed the controversial Diana revenge dress scene only 800 yards from Prince William’s bedroom at Kensington Palace
Richard Cordery is pictured as Lord Hussey filming scenes at New Broadcasting HouseÂ
The Netflix series recreated the evening Diana stepped out in an off the shoulder, tight black dress in a break with royal protocol after Prince Charles admitted to adultery on TV.
The scene was filmed in the same spot in Kensington Gardens that Diana arrived at a dinner at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994 – a position that can almost be viewed from Prince William’s bedroom.
Also earlier this month, royal expert Penny Junor said the makers of The Crown had stuck up ‘two fingers’ at the Royal Family by casting the stepdaughter of IRA supporter Roy Greenslade in the role of Countess Mountbatten.
Ms Junor said Natascha McElhone, 51, was not responsible for the ‘sins of her stepfather’. But she said another actress should have been considered because of the role’s sensitive nature.
Richard Cordery – who has previously starred in Shakespeare plays – channelled the former BBC chair is scenes todayÂ
Princess Diana is seen during her interview with Martin Bashir for the BBC’s Panorama in 1995
Lord Hussey’s wife, Lady Susan Hussey, is a woman of the bedchamber to the Queen and also a godmother to Prince William.Â
Former Fleet Street editor and Guardian columnist Mr Greenslade, who edited the Daily Mirror and held a top job at The Sun, revealed his support for the IRA earlier this year.Â
Baron Hussey was a staunch royalist and it’s believed he left the corporation after falling out with Director General John Birt over his management style and Panorama’s controversial interview.
He asked BBC governors to condemn the interview and attempted to force the immediate resignation of John Birt. He resigned two months later writing in his memoir that the incident had ‘darkened my last months at the BBCÂ
 His wife, Lady Susan Hussey, is a woman of the bedchamber to the Queen and also a godmother to Prince William.Â
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A BBC Two documentary examining the relationship between the royal households and the media also stepped back from suggestions that William allowed aides to brief about his brother’s mental health – which was categorically denied by, and deeply offended many in, the royal household.
BBC journalist Amol Rajan in a publicity photograph for The Princes and The Press
The two-part documentary series, fronted by BBC journalist Amol Rajan, had already drawn unprecedented censure from Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace.
The royal households believe it contains a slew of unsubstantiated and categorically inaccurate accusations about collusion with the media, particularly in connection with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during the tumultuous period of their decision to quit royal duties, dubbed ‘Megxit’.
The households’ lawyers had been preparing to examine the final programme with a fine-tooth comb and had not ruled out a formal complaint. But last night’s prime-time offering had seemingly been watered-down at the 11th hour, with editing going on up until the last minute. Plans for an accompanying podcast have also been postponed by the BBC.
