Martin Bashir

“Each story we approach in the same way, with curiosity and interest and determination to get behind the image.”

“The Thriller album is still the biggest album of all time. That is still returning huge royalty cheques.”

“We wanted to make sure that the film covered the main issues of his life. Musicianship, appearance.”

“The children don't wear their masks at home and in controlled surroundings.”

“Press coverage has been difficult for him. I did not set out to ensnare him with a child.”

“I never saw anything that would qualify as a criminal activity.”

“He was very concerned about his children potentially being kidnapped or attached, and that's why they were covered up. When he went to Berlin zoo, there were 200 photographers.”

“I had a pension that I was paying into for 27 years... It's now worth less than a Herman Cain endorsement.”

“I have an inate curiosity about people.”

“If you listen carefully to Rick Santorum, he sounds more like Stalin than Pope Innocent III.”

“If somebody's not prepared to answer the question, you can keep asking.”

“This was almost two hours of factual documentary. In our audience ratings, barely no one left the programme. The whole of his life is so fascinating and people kept watching for that reason.”

“You say he's childish, but he's very professional about business transactions.”

“The chili-rubbed rib-eye at Porter House New York is one of the best steaks that I've eaten anywhere in the world.”

“I'm just trying to do my best in the circumstances and am very happy for everyone else to do the same so I don't cultivate enemies.”

“The first time I ask him, have you had your cheekbones raised, have you had your nose changed? He denied it all. I was asking him to compare his face with what it looked like years ago.”

“I don't think his life has been in any way disfigured by the film. The film did disclose some difficult facts.”

“It's terrible. How can we tell the world who the real Michael Jackson is?”

“The film was fair to his musical achievement and gave him every opportunity to explain himself.”

“It was a challenging experience. I'm looking forward to a break.”