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On the Ropes: Max Mosley

Max Mosley

01/03/2011

BBC Radio 4 - On the Ropes, Max Mosley

Former motor racing boss Max Mosley speaks to John Humphrys.

Max Mosley, former head of motor-racing's governing body, the FIA, discusses the impact of the now infamous News of the World story which revealed his penchant for sadomasochism.

Max Mosley ,the former President of Motor Racing's Governing body the FIA, has lived his life in the constant shadow of controversy: his parents were Oswold Mosley and Diana Mitford whose wedding was attended by Adolf Hitler. But in 2008 the full beam of public scrutiny fell directly upon Max Mosley himself, when the News of the World ran a story revealing his interest in sadomasochism and involvement with prostitutes.

In a candid interview, Max Mosley discusses the impact on his life of this now infamous story.

Mosley successfully sued the tabloid for breach of privacy and proved in court that the allegations of a Nazi element to the orgy were entirely false.

He has now taken his case to the European Court of Human Rights; he wants the British government to be forced to introduce a law which would require journalists to inform people about stories featuring them, before they appear. This would allow time for an injunction to be issued, preventing publication. Journalists are against this proposal, saying it would hamper legitimate investigative journalism.

In this programme Max Mosley tells John Humphrys about the moment his wife first saw the story in the News of the World (she thought it was a joke) and describes the impact the revelations about his extra-marital sexual activities have had on his family, and his marriage. He also reiterates his determination to see a change in the law and reveals he had a substantial fund available to carry on his campaign for many years.

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