I’ll watch anything with Gillian Anderson in it. This Netflix film is a docudrama about the BBC’s Newsnight team scoring a sensationally revealing 2019 interview with Prince Andrew, Duke of York (Rufus Sewell), about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein…and underaged girls.
The events that led up to the unusual royal interview conducted by Newsnight anchor Emily Maitlis (Gillian Anderson) are seen through the actions of show booker, Sam McAlister (Billy Piper), who manages to convince Prince Andrew (aka, “Randy Andy) that an interview broadcast nationally might better his position (MINOR SPOILER: it doesn’t). The film doesn’t mention that the real McAlister was originally a barrister, perhaps because that might have muddied the way she is presented as a brassy, working-class, struggling single mother. Before the interview with Prince Andrew, Emily Maitlis asks Sam McAlister for advice and Sam tells her, “Let him talk. Men like that.” A wise bit of advice from a lawyer skilled in cross-examination.
My favorite part of Scoop isn’t the interview, which I saw back in 2019, but Sam McAlister persuading Prince Andrew’s aide Amanda Thirsk (Keeley Hawes) to consider giving Newsnight an exclusive interview with no “red lines,” in other words, no areas that can’t be discussed. You have to wonder what the Royals and their staff of advisors was thinking when they agreed to this fiasco.
“When Epstein is re-arrested in 2019 and the royal connection starts getting aired all over again, especially the infamous photograph of Andrew, a then-17-year-old trafficking victim named Virginia Giuffre and Maxwell upstairs at Maxwell’s London flat, Andrew and his aides believe this might be an opportunity to spin the story in his favor. All are convinced that the supposed charm of the ‘Queen’s favorite’ will somehow work its magic even on famously tough interviewer Maitlis.” There was no magic as millions of the Queen’s subjects watched Prince Andrew evade and lie during the hour broadcast. It’s hard to spin Pedophilia. GRADE: B+
Actually a pedophile is someone who likes pre adolescent children. The media has used the word incorrectly so much it has fallen into use for anyone under 18. It’s still illegal and should be, but just saying. Haven’t watched this yet but plan to.
Steve, maybe “sexual predator” might be a better fit for Epstein and Prince Edward. I’m still convinced Epstein was murdered.
Ephebophiles, adults who lust for teens, are not notably kinder, even when they don’t overlap.
Todd, older men having sex with teenagers is as old as Time…and still wrong.
Not solely men. And it’s inevitably exploitive at best.
Of course he was murdered. The camera just happened to be off at the time? Please.
Good cast, but I have no interest in Epstein or this sleazy crew. I’ll see if Jackie wants to watch it.
Jeff, SCOOP is more about the maneuvering of the BBC to get Prince Andrew to agree to an interview. Epstein appears in some photographs but that’s about it. Yes, the turned off camera at the time of Epstein’s death is certainly suspicious!
I forgot about this but will watch it. I also like Keely Hawes from various BBC shows.
Patti, I like Keely Hawes, too. The BBC seems to use some of these great actors in several of their series.
Another loop I’m not in! I don’t get Netflix and never heard of this interview! I do know about Epstein’s murder, though, and have a good idea who’s responsible!
Bob, Epstein had a lot of enemies. He had to be silenced.
He had the goods on friends in high places! He wasn’t the first to die from that!
Bob, dead men tell no tales…
Well, more to the point, lots of customers who were all too much friends.
Todd, Epstein hung out with rich, powerful, and political people like Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton.
Because they tended to be clients, and/or creeps similar to him (and eventual potential blackmail targets). As with Andre Tate more recently, or Drumpf, no one palled around with him due to his personal charm.
Andrew Tate, that is.