Editing Martin Bashir (section)

==Early life and education==
Bashir was born and raised in [[Wandsworth]], [[London]], to liberal Muslim parents from [[Pakistan]]. He converted to [[Christianity]] in his teens. His father served in the Royal Navy during [[World War II]].<ref name=RT>{{cite news |last1=Ling|first1=Thomas|last2=Bashir|first2=Martin|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/bbcs-religion-editor-martin-bashir-why-christianity-is-still-relevant-this-easter/|title=BBC's religion editor Martin Bashir: Why Christianity is still relevant this Easter |work=Radio Times |date=1 April 2018 |access-date=16 May 2021 |quote=My parents came to Britain from Pakistan in 1951, my father having served with the Royal Navy throughout the Second World War. They would describe themselves as liberal Muslims, firmly embracing of British culture, and did not insist upon attendance at a mosque beyond my tenth birthday.}}</ref><ref name="STimes20201108">{{cite news|last1=Allen-Mills|first1=Tony|last2=Hellen|first2=Nicholas|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/martin-bashir-dianas-interviewer-was-elusive-contradictory-and-a-target-of-hostility-2vjrqlzl0|title=Martin Bashir, Diana's interviewer, was elusive, contradictory and a target of hostility|work=The Sunday Times|date=8 November 2020|access-date=12 November 2020}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Bashir was educated at the boys' state comprehensive [[Wandsworth School]], [[University of Winchester|King Alfred's College of Higher Education, Winchester]], studying English and History from 1982 to 1985 (at the time, degrees at King Alfred's were approved by the Council for National Academic Awards), and at [[King's College London]], where he completed a master's degree in [[theology]].<ref>{{cite news |url =https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/apr/25/how-did-the-martin-bashir-i-knew-become-tvs-anti-hero|first =Jonathan|last =Maitland|title =How did the Martin Bashir I knew become TV's anti-hero?|newspaper =[[The Guardian]] |date =25 April 2021}}</ref>

Bashir was one of five children, one of whom suffered from [[muscular dystrophy]] and died in 1991.<ref name="STimes20201108" /> Bashir attributed his decisions in life to his late brother, including his appearance on ''[[The X Factor: Celebrity]]''. Bashir said in 2019, "Every time I have faced a challenge I have heard him whispering saying, 'What excuse do you have? You have no excuse.'"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jeffries |first1=Mark |title=Martin Bashir on heartbreaking death that made him do Celebrity X Factor |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/martin-bashir-opens-up-heartbreaking-20555471 |website=The Mirror |date=10 October 2019 |access-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205101444/https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/martin-bashir-opens-up-heartbreaking-20555471 |archive-date=5 December 2019}}</ref>