MP STEVE Brine is pressing for Martin Bashir, a former Winchester resident, to publicly explain himself over his TV interview with Princess Diana in 1995.

Her brother Earl Spencer has accused Mr Bashir of tricking his sister into granting the Panorama interview by the use of fake documents and lies.

The BBC has said it will conduct an inquiry and MPs on the digital, culture, media and sport select committee are reported to be considering launching their own investigation next week into Mr Bashir and whether the BBC covered up the issue in the mid-1990s.

Mr Bashir, 57, who studied at King Alfred's College in the 1980s and used to live on Clifton Road, Oram's Arbour, now lives in London.

He is said to be too unwell to answer questions, having had heart surgery and contracted Covid-19, but has reportedly been seen going out to get an Indian takeaway.

National newspapers say he is alleged to have used a BBC graphic designer to fabricate bank statements as supposed proof that Royal staff were selling stories about Diana's private life and claiming to her that her phone was tapped by MI5, and that she had been betrayed by close friends and her bodyguard.

Mr Brine, a member of the digital, culture, media and sport committee, called on Mr Bashir to explain himself. He told a national newspaper: "I am fully behind Earl Spencer's call for an inquiry. I don't know why the media is reporting Martin Bashir is too unwell to answer questions when he was well enough to have a takeaway at the weekend. He has questions to answer. If you can't speak, then how can you go out and have a takeaway?

"If he has got nothing to hide, then just tell us and that is the end of it. This is like Donald Trump – if he has evidence of a fraudulent election, he should disclose it."

Mr Brine added: "If I was one of her boys or in the family I would want to get to the bottom of this. MPs on the committee meet on Tuesday and I will raise it."