Prince Andrew gave a, now infamous, interview with BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis back in 2019.

The explosive 58-minute discussion detailed his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following his death in August that year.

The viral interview also saw the Prince deny allegations that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl.

From his inability to sweat to his apparent visit to Pizza Express in Woking, the interview is considered a PR disaster and led to the Prince stepping back from his public duties in the days following. 

In 2022, the Prince lost his 'His Royal Highness' title alongside a series of military titles like the Colonel of the Grenadier Guard, Honorary air commodore of RAF Lossiemouth and Colonel-in-chief of the Royal Irish Regiment among others. 

The interview has already been dramatised into a Channel 4 TV musical with Kieran Hodgson, Munya Chawawa, Harry Enfield and Joe Wilkinson.

Viewers also might be aware that a documentary on the interview already exists from Channel 4 called Andrew: The Problem Prince. 

However, on April 5, Netflix released a new drama which stars Gillian Anderson, Billie Piper and Rufus Sewell.

Speaking about the new film, Netflix explained: “Scoop highlights the women who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring one of the biggest news stories of the decade to light.

“In the drama, Sam McAlister, Maitlis, and editor Esme Wren (Romola Garai) track the story from beginning to end, navigating palace vetoes, tense negotiations with Prince Andrew’s private secretary Amanda Thirsk (Keeley Hawes), and hours of research and rehearsal leading up to the interview itself."

What is Scoop based on?

The film Scoop is based on the real-life events that took place in the lead-up to Prince Andrew’s famous interview as told by interview producer and guest booker Sam McAlister's memoir of the same name. 

Netflix added: “Additionally, the film’s producers meticulously researched the events at the BBC and Buckingham Palace during this time.


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"There are some dramatized differences, of course. Unlike in the film, in reality, McAlister spent 13 months building a relationship with Thirsk, turning nos into maybes, and maybes into that final yes.”

Sam who was on set for both the real interview and the film commented: “It was like being there all over again.”

She added: “The level of detail, putting together exactly the same room, the camera angles, the lighting, the specifics of the table, the cables, the types of cameras, the carpet — everything is so ridiculously close.”

The film comes as Emily Maitlis executive produces an upcoming three-part series dramatizing the interview for Amazon Studios.

The series, which is called A Very Royal Scandal, will star Ruth Wilson as Maitlis, Michael Sheen as Prince Andrew and Joanna Scanlan as Thirsk.

Scoop can be streamed on Netflix from April 5.