Today, a brand new drama about Prince Andrew’s disastrous Newsnight interview has dropped on Netflix – and according to an expert it “couldn’t be more ill-timed” in the wake of cancer diagnoses of both King Charles and the Princess of Wales
The eagerly-anticipated Netflix drama about Prince Andrew’s disastrous Newsnight interview couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Royal Family, according to an expert.
Scoop- the story of how the BBC team secured the car-crash chat – drops on the streaming platform today starring Rufus Sewell as Andrew, Gillian Anderson as interviewer Emily Maitlis and Billie Piper playing TV producer Sam McAlister. The interview, which aired more than four years ago in 2019 turned into a disaster for the Duke of York as he declined to say he regretted his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and gave memorable answers including details of his visit to Pizza Express and his inability to sweat.
The interview ultimately triggered his downfall with Andrew now no longer playing any role in royal life and not being able to use his HRH title. The drama comes at an unprecedented time for the Royal Family with both King Charles and the Princess of Wales both having cancer treatment.
And the Mirror’s royal editor Russell Myers says it’s unlikely the Royal Family will be tuning in. He said: “There is arguably no good time for the royal family to be confronted once again with the catastrophic decision by Prince Andrew to take part in his disastrous Newsnight interview, let alone a new drama which will be watched by millions around the world and reignite the scandal. But the Netflix show Scoop couldn’t be more ill-timed for the royals.
“Recent months have seen an absolutely unprecedented time for the monarchy, with the King and Princess of Wales having been forced to take a leave of absence away from royal duties due to their various health conditions. Losing two of The Firm’s main figures has left the ‘slimmed down monarchy’ looking rather threadbare.
“So much so, that the Queen at the age of 76, has become the main focal point for the royal family’s public duties, at an age where most people are enjoying the fruits of their retirement.
“One thing is for certain, the palace will say that none of the royal family will be tuning in, they lived through the real thing after all. But the public’s fascination remains with how the Duke of York and those around him thought that it would be a good idea to take part in the interview that exposed him to widespread condemnation and ridicule, leading to his banishment from royal life.”
Andrew now no longer attends official royal events, although has joined his relatives for family occasions such as church services at Christmas and Easter. But it seems any hopes he may harbour of a return to public life one day seem very unlikely.
Russell added: “The King and Prince William have made it quite clear to Prince Andrew that he has no chance of ever being involved in royal duties again, regardless of how he may feel that a brief time out of the spotlight could have led to a return to public life.
“Much like the King’s efforts to lead the family at church on Easter Sunday and show the public that he is able to continue with the job, the royals need a period of unity and stability in the wake of Charles and Kate’s cancer diagnoses. The emergence of not one but two major dramas on the Prince Andrew Jeffrey Epstein scandal, with another on Amazon planned for release later this year, couldn’t have come at a worse time.”
