Emily Maitlis finally speaks out on Netflix's Prince Andrew movie Scoop

Virgin Radio

5 Apr 2024, 14:15

Emily Maitlis has finally broken her silence about Netflix’s film dramatization of her infamous Prince Andrew Newsnight interview.

Scoop stars Gillian Anderson as Maitlis, and depicts her famous carcrash 2019 conversation with Andrew (Rufus Sewell), during which she questioned him about the sexual assault allegations which were brought against him by Virginia Giuffre and which he has always denied.

The former Newsnight journalist spoke out about the new Netflix film - which was released today (5th April) - in an interview with Deadline, saying: “I’ve left them very much to do their own thing because I think the last thing they want is me peeking around the edges offering my [views].”

However, she did add that she was “very excited” to see the film “at some stage” and that she felt the film had succeeded in taking the story to “brand new heights”.

Maitlis was not involved in the production of Netflix’s film, in which Billie Piper stars as Newsnight’s producer Sam McAlister - on whose memoir the film is based. She is however an executive producer on a separate Amazon series which is also being made about her interview with Prince Andrew.

Opening up about the difference between her project and Netflix’s, Maitlis referred to how Netflix’s drama is more of a “dramatization” and “goes into different places and does different things” when compared to the Amazon show.

In Scoop, McAlister is at the heart of the story, meanwhile Maitlis’ drama A Very Royal Scandal is expected to focus less on her role. While it has been revealed The Woman in the Wall’s Ruth Wilson will star as Maitlis and Michael Sheen will play Andrew in the Amazon show, it’s still unknown who will play McAlister.

Maitlis stressed she didn’t feel her drama and Netflix’s projects were “duelling dramas”, though. “I think that probably is overplayed, overstated. This [the Amazon series] will be a very different beast. I’m sure there’s room for both,” she said. “It’s unreal that there is all this interest and all this excitement.”

Scoop is out on Netflix now.