ABC NEWS: TURNING POINT: PRINCESS DIANA: THE INTERVIEW (TV)

Summary

The first of two programs on this asset. One in this series of news magazine programs that takes an in-depth look at a specific topic. This special installment of "Turning Point" features a rare interview with Diana, Princess of Wales. In this secret interview, which the princess set up without the knowledge of her friends, advisors, or members of the Royal Family, Diana speaks with reporter Martin Bashir of the BBC in her home at Kensington Palace. First, U.S. reporter Barbara Walters introduces the discussion by reflecting on a conversation she had with Princess Diana after this interview. During the interview, Princess Diana speaks with Bashir about the following topics, among others: her feelings and expectations in 1981 as she prepared to marry Prince Charles; her attempt to cope with her abrupt transformation into a person who was constantly pursued by the media; the pressure that developed from media attention and the public's preference for her over Prince Charles; her evolving role as a humanitarian who helps the "rejected"; her post-natal depression; the fact that she was labeled "unbalanced"; her attempts to hurt herself; Prince Charles's reaction to her behavior throughout their marriage; her bouts with bulimia; her belief that she never received credit when she did something good, but always heard criticism when she did something wrong; Prince Charles's relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles; ways in which the royal family isolated her; her non-involvement in the creation of Andrew Morton's book, "Diana, Her True Story"; the decision to become legally separated; the way she talks to her children about events at home; ways that Royal Family members have tried to discredit her and the reason they still campaign against her; her decision to withdraw from public life; Charles's confession of his affair with Bowles; her adulterous relationship with her riding instructor; her feelings about the possiblity of a divorce; her opinion about the way the press hounds her; and her decision to grant the interview. Between interview segments, Walters remarks on her own conversation with Diana, and at the end of the program, she conveys the British public's response to the interview after it was telecast on BBC. Walters notes that the final portion of the interview is featured on "20/20," which was telecast after this program. Also included is footage of the following: an interview with the royal couple before their wedding in 1981; the royal wedding; Princess Diana shaking hands with citizens outside of the palace gates; Princess Diana holding Prince William as an infant; the queen's description of 1992 as a horrible year; and Prince Charles and Princess Diana's announcement that they had decided to separate. Includes commercials and promos. This program is closed-captioned. Continues with T:41534.

(Part two of this interview appears on "20/20.")

("Turning Point" became a series of irregularly scheduled specials beginning in 1995.)

Cataloging of this program was made possible by The Marc Haas and Helen Hotze Haas Foundation, 1997.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: November 24, 1995 9:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:18:52
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:41533
• GENRE: Magazine; News; Specials
• SUBJECT HEADING: Great Britain - Social life and customs; Great Britain - Officials - Talk/Interviews; Monarchy - Great Britain; News; Reporters and reporting
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1994-
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - "Apollo 13" (home video)
  • TV - Commercials - "Balto" (feature film)
  • TV - Commercials - "Father of the Bride: Part II" (feature film)
  • TV - Commercials - "Get Shorty" (feature film)
  • TV - Commercials - "Golden Eye" (feature film)
  • TV - Commercials - "Jumanji" (feature film)
  • TV - Commercials - "Waiting to Exhale" (feature film)
  • TV - Commercials - Advil pain relief gel caplets
  • TV - Commercials - American Express Charge Against Hunger
  • TV - Commercials - Black & Decker Versa Pak battery power system
  • TV - Commercials - Camaro automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Discover credit cards
  • TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Lee jeans
  • TV - Commercials - Neutrogena shampoo
  • TV - Commercials - Polaner All Fruit spread
  • TV - Commercials - Polaroid Talking camera
  • TV - Commercials - Pork
  • TV - Commercials - Sav-on pharmacies
  • TV - Commercials - Sears department stores
  • TV - Commercials - Sprint phone service
  • TV - Commercials - Tylenol pain reliever
  • TV - Commercials - Video Quest Tiger Ed computer
  • TV - Promos - "20/20"
  • TV - Promos - "Groundhog Day"
  • TV - Promos - "Home Improvement"
  • TV - Promos - "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman"
  • TV - Promos - "The City"
  • TV - Promos - "The Jeff Foxworthy Show"
  • TV - Promos - "The Oprah Winfrey Show"
  • TV - Promos - "What About Bob?"

CREDITS

• For BBC:
• Steve Hewlett … Executive Producer
• Clive Edwards … Deputy Executive Producer
• Mike Robinson … Producer
• Stuart Robertson … Researcher
• Martin Bashir … Interviewer, Reporter
• Diana, Princess of Wales (See also: Spencer, Diana) … Guest
• For "Turning Point":
• Betsy West … Executive Producer
• Janice Tomlin … Senior Broadcasting Producer
• Rudy Bednar … Senior Producer
• Jonathan Talmadge … Producer
• Denise Schreiner … Producer
• David Perozzi … Associate Producer
• Wendy Roth … Broadcast Producer
• Gigi Shamsy Raye … Field Producer
• Roger Goodman … Director
• Barbara Walters … Anchor, Host
• Camilla Parker Bowles
• Charles, Prince of Wales
• Andrew Morton
• Prince William