Identity of ‘Fake Sheikh’ to be revealed this evening

The identity of undercover journalist Mazher Mahmood or the "Fake Sheikh" will be revealed tonight on BBC Panorama.

Mr Mahmood, who was criticised by a judge for lying in the drugs trial of pop star Tulisa Contostavlos, last week lost a high court battle preventing the BBC Panorama documentary from disclosing his identity.

Refusing the injunction, judge Sir David Eady said the court had “no reason to restrict the corporation’s freedom of speech or editorial discretion”.

Mr Mahmood exposed various celebrities and high profile figures while working at the now-defunct News of the World, using a disguise as a sheikh.

The investigative reporter was the key prosecution witness against former N-Dubz singer Ms Contostavlos, but the case collapsed in July when judge Alistair McCreath told the jury at Southwark crown court that there were “strong grounds” to believe that Mr Mahmood had lied on the witness stand and “had been manipulating the evidence”.

Mr Mahmood denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged.

Last week, Mr Mahmood’s counsel Adam Speker told the high court judge that showing his current appearance in a broadcast which was likely to be watched by millions was intrusive and not in the public interest.

He said threats have been made to Mr Mahmood, who lives a reclusive life in secure accommodation with 24-hour surveillance and where his neighbours do not know his real identity.

Manuel Barca QC, for the BBC, said that Mr Mahmood’s identity was no secret and that the case was not about any fears for his safety but about protecting his livelihood and the shelf life of his professional stock-in-trade.

He said the public interest was self-evident, not least in the context of the Contostavlos trial.

The judge ruled that Mr Mahmood had not discharged the heavy burden of proof under the Articles of the Human Rights Act upon which he relied.

In a trailer for tonight’s Panorama, the BBC said it would broadcast interviews with some of Mr Mahmood’s highest profile targets and the men who helped him expose them.

The programme will broadcast tonight on BBC at 8.30pm.

PA