Granada TV have responded to the fall out over that Michael Jackson documentary and in particular to Jacko’s claims over the weekend that he had filmed Bashir filming him, and that he would release the film to prove Martin Bashir's portrayal was hypocritical. Describing Jacko’s response as "clumsy" and "desperate" they denied Bashir would be embarrassed by any video footage Jackson owned, claiming attempts to sell the footage to the tabloids for £60,000 last week had been unsuccessful.
In a statement Granada said: "Martin Bashir has nothing to hide - he knew he was being filmed by Michael Jackson's aides at various times. The resulting footage has been edited by Michael Jackson's aides, and as yet we've seen nothing of it. All we know of it is that it was being peddled to Sunday newspapers with an asking price of £60,000 and found no takers. This is becoming the most expensive, clumsy and desperate attempt at shooting the messenger we've ever seen. Bashir's film is candid, revealing and honest. There is nothing misleading about it, and no lies. Reaction to it stems from what Michael Jackson says and does in the film, not Martin Bashir's actions or words."
However that footage will now be aired on a Jacko special on CBS in the US tomorrow night, so I guess whether Granada’s is right to be confident that Bashir’s reputation will not be harmed, especially in the US, remains to be seen. Either way, no comment on accusations the Bashir documentary was a bit rubbish and a terrible waste of the access he was given to one of the world’s biggest most eccentric performers.