Scribe admits faking celebrity interviews

A Norwegian journalist has admitted he fabricated interviews with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and American talk show host Oprah Winfrey, media reports said on Monday.

Freelance writer Bjoern Benkow said in a statement that the interviews, published in Norwegian and Swedish media, were partially concocted because of financial 8216;8216;desperation,8217;8217; newspaper Verdens Gang reported.

8216;8216;I have met and talked to these global celebrities,8217;8217; Benkow was quoted as saying. 8216;8216;But the circumstances and times have not always been as I described.8217;8217;