Martin Bashir’s career has passed through television’s brightest spotlights and some of broadcasting’s most intense scrutiny. He was born on January 19, 1963 (63 years old) in Wandsworth, London, England.
Martin, the British former journalist, became internationally known after interviewing Diana, Princess of Wales, for the BBC’s Panorama in 1995. The programme attracted around 23 million UK viewers and transformed Bashir from a relatively unknown reporter into a household name.
His career also included roles at ITV, ABC, MSNBC, NBC, and BBC News. He was also named Journalist of the Year by the Royal Television Society in 1996.
Quick Facts of Martin Bashir
| Full Name | Martin Henry Bashir |
| Profession | Former journalist, TV presenter, news anchor, and musician |
| Age | 63 years old |
| Date of Birth | January 19, 1963 |
| Nationality | British |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Capricorn |
| Birthplace | Wandsworth, London, England |
| Current Address | United Kingdom |
| Gender | Male |
Martin Bashir Early Life and Education
Martin Bashir was born and raised in Wandsworth, southwest London.
Education
Martin Bashir attended Wandsworth School for Boys before enrolling at King Alfred’s College of Higher Education in Winchester, now the University of Winchester.
From 1982 to 1985, he studied English and History and completed his undergraduate education in those subjects. He later attended King’s College London, where he earned a master’s degree in theology.
His academic background was therefore centred on the humanities and religious studies rather than journalism, although he entered broadcasting as a freelance journalist before joining the BBC in 1986.
| School | Wandsworth School for Boys |
| Alma Mater | King’s College London |
| Highest Qualification | Master’s degree in theology |
Martin Bashir Personal Life
Martin Bashir is married to Deborah Bashir. She maintains a private life and rarely appears publicly despite her husband’s long career in television journalism.
Children
Martin and Deborah have three children named Phoebe, Samuel, and Eliza.
Parents
Bashir was born to Muslim parents from Pakistan.
Father
His father’s name is yet to be updated. He served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
Mother
His mother’s name and professional details are yet to be updated.
Siblings
Bashir was one of five children. His brother Tommy had muscular dystrophy and died in 1991 at the age of 29.
The names and personal details of his other three siblings are yet to be updated.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Deborah Bashir |
| Children | Son: Samuel Bashir Daughters: Phoebe Bashir and Eliza Bashir |
| Father: Yet to be updated Mother: Yet to be updated | |
| Siblings | Brother: (Late) Tommy Bashir |
Martin Bashir Career
Martin Bashir worked across British and American television for more than three decades.
His career included investigative reporting, documentary interviews, news anchoring, political commentary, and religious affairs coverage.
Early BBC Career from 1986 to 1995
Bashir began his career as a freelance sports journalist before joining the BBC in 1986. He later contributed to programmes such as Songs of Praise, Public Eye, and Panorama.
His work gradually shifted towards investigative reports and interviews. These early assignments prepared him for the programme that would bring him international recognition.
Panorama and the Princess Diana Interview in 1995
Bashir became widely known after interviewing Diana, Princess of Wales, for Panorama in November 1995. Nearly 23 million people watched the programme in the United Kingdom.
Producer Mike Robinson worked with Bashir on the programme. Their interview received several major broadcasting honours, although awards connected to it were later returned or rescinded after the 2021 Dyson investigation.
The interview made Bashir a household name and opened the door to further interviews with public figures.
ITV and Tonight with Trevor McDonald from 1999 to 2004
Bashir left the BBC and joined ITV in 1999. He produced special documentaries and contributed features to Tonight with Trevor McDonald.
The programme was presented by Sir Trevor McDonald, one of Britain’s most respected news anchors. Bashir was a contributing journalist rather than McDonald’s regular cohost.
In 2003, Bashir presented Living with Michael Jackson. Illusionist Uri Geller helped arrange the interviews, and Bashir followed Michael Jackson for around eight months.
The documentary included footage from Neverland Ranch and Jackson’s travels. It attracted approximately 14 million viewers in the United Kingdom and 38 million in the United States.
Bashir also presented Major Fraud in 2003. The documentary examined the case of Charles Ingram, who attempted to win the top prize on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Other notable people interviewed by Bashir included George Best, Louise Woodward, Jeffrey Archer, Michael Barrymore, and Joanne Lees. He also interviewed the five suspects in the Stephen Lawrence murder case.
ABC News and Nightline from 2004 to 2010
Bashir moved to New York and joined ABC News in 2004. He initially worked as a correspondent before becoming one of the main anchors of Nightline.
In October 2005, ABC named Martin Bashir, Cynthia McFadden, and Terry Moran as the programme’s new co-anchors. The three journalists succeeded longtime Nightline presenter Ted Koppel.
Bashir continued presenting the programme alongside McFadden and Moran until leaving ABC in 2010. Reporters, including Dan Harris, contributed stories to broadcasts presented by the anchor team.
Bashir also worked with journalists across ABC programmes such as 20/20. Juju Chang was among his ABC News colleagues during this period, although she was not one of his original Nightline co-anchors.
His notable assignments included an interview with Victor Conte, founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative, concerning performance-enhancing drugs in professional sport.
MSNBC and NBC from 2010 to 2013
Bashir joined MSNBC and NBC News in August 2010. At MSNBC, he worked as a political commentator, daytime anchor, and occasional substitute host.
He sometimes filled in for Lawrence O’Donnell, the presenter of The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell. Bashir later received his own weekday current affairs programme titled Martin Bashir.
The programme was presented by Bashir alone. He interviewed political commentators, reporters, and public figures while examining major American news stories.
Bashir also joined Dateline NBC as a correspondent. Ann Curry was the programme’s principal anchor when he arrived, while Lester Holt succeeded her in 2011.
Bashir therefore worked within the wider Dateline NBC team during the periods led by Curry and Holt. He resigned from MSNBC in December 2013 after apologising for comments about former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.
Return to BBC News from 2016 to 2021
Bashir returned to the BBC in September 2016 as its religious affairs correspondent. He succeeded journalist Caroline Wyatt, who had stepped away from the role because of health concerns.
He covered religious events and contributed reports to BBC television and radio. His work included contributions to Sunday, BBC Radio 4’s programme about religion, ethics and current affairs.
The programme’s principal presenters during this period included Edward Stourton and William Crawley. Bashir contributed specialist reporting rather than serving as their regular cohost.
In 2018, Bashir was promoted from religious affairs correspondent to religion editor. He left the BBC on 14 May 2021 to focus on ongoing health concerns.
Music, Film and Reality Television
Bashir made a brief appearance as himself in the 2001 comedy film Mike Bassett: England Manager, which starred Ricky Tomlinson in the leading role.
He also plays bass guitar and performs vocals. In October 2010, he released a reggae album titled Bass Lion.
In 2019, Bashir competed on The X Factor: Celebrity. The programme was hosted by Dermot O’Leary, while its judging panel included Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger, and Louis Walsh.
Bashir was mentored by Nicole Scherzinger in the contestants aged over 31 category. He finished in ninth place after performing songs including Frank Sinatra’s That’s Life.
Martin Bashir Awards and Achievements
Here are the major achievements of Martin Bashir:
Key Wins
- 1996: BAFTA Television Award for Talk Show: For Panorama Interview with HRH The Princess of Wales.
- 1996: Royal Television Society Journalist of the Year: For an interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.
- 1996: Broadcasting Press Guild TV Journalist of the Year: For his work on BBC’s Panorama.
- 1996: Broadcasting Press Guild Best Single Documentary: For Panorama Interview with HRH The Princess of Wales.
- 1996: TRIC Factual or Science-Based Programme of the Year: For the Panorama interview with Princess Diana.
Martin Bashir Controversies
- Princess Diana Interview and Dyson Investigation: Martin Bashir faced intense scrutiny over his 1995 Panorama interview with Princess Diana. In 2021, the Dyson investigation found that he used fake bank statements to gain Earl Spencer’s trust and secure an introduction to Diana, seriously breaching BBC editorial guidelines. Bashir apologised for arranging the statements but said they did not influence Diana’s decision to participate.
- Living with Michael Jackson Documentary: Bashir’s 2003 documentary Living with Michael Jackson became controversial after Jackson accused him of betrayal and unfairly presenting his private life. Jackson released a rebuttal programme featuring additional footage and submitted complaints to British broadcasting regulators about his portrayal in the documentary.
- ABC Suspension: ABC suspended Bashir in 2008 after he made inappropriate sexual remarks during an Asian American Journalists Association event. His comments referred to Asian women and ABC colleague Juju Chang. Bashir later apologised, describing the remarks as tasteless and calling the incident a moment of stupidity.
- Sarah Palin Remarks and MSNBC Resignation: In 2013, Bashir made offensive comments about former Alaska governor Sarah Palin while responding to her comparison between national debt and slavery. He apologised on air and admitted that his remarks were unacceptable and deeply offensive before resigning from MSNBC in December 2013.
Martin Bashir Net Worth
Martin’s estimated net worth is around $7 million.
| Net Worth (approx.) | $7 million |
Martin Bashir Height, and Physical Stats
Below are the physical stats of Martin Bashir.
| Height | In centimetres: 168 cm In meters: 1.68 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 6 inches |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
Interesting Facts About Martin Bashir
- Bashir converted to Christianity during his late teenage years and has described himself as a committed Christian.
- He appeared as himself in the 2001 comedy film Mike Bassett: England Manager.
- Outside journalism, Bashir plays bass guitar and released a reggae album titled Bass Lion in 2010.
- He participated in The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019.
Martin Bashir Instagram
 @martinbashirofficial |
FAQs
How old is Martin Bashir?
Martin Bashir is 63 years old. He was born on January 19, 1963.
Why is Martin Bashir famous?
Martin Bashir is best known for interviewing Diana, Princess of Wales, for the BBC programme Panorama in 1995. He also presented the 2003 documentary Living with Michael Jackson.
Who is the wife of Martin Bashir?
Martin Bashir is married to Deborah Bashir.
Does Martin Bashir have children?
Yes, Martin and Deborah Bashir have three children named Phoebe, Samuel, and Eliza.
What is the qualification of Martin Bashir?
Martin Bashir studied English and History at King Alfred’s College of Higher Education. He later earned a master’s degree in theology from King’s College London.
Which television networks has Martin Bashir worked for?
During Martin Bashir’s broadcasting career, he worked for the BBC, ITV, ABC News, NBC News, and MSNBC.
Is Martin Bashir still working for the BBC?
No, Martin Bashir resigned from his position as the BBC’s religion editor in May 2021, citing ongoing health concerns.
