Scoop, a new series released on Netflix at the start of April, follows the attempt and lead up to securing the notorious interview between Prince Andrew and the BBC Newsnight journalist Emily Maitlis. The all-star cast featuring Rufus Sewell, Gillian Anderson, Billie Piper and Keeley Hawes lets you experience the differing perspectives of those involved, however, it misses out those in the general public. It is based on the book written by Sam McAlister, a Newsnight producer played by Billie Piper, who became responsible for securing the interview with Prince Andrew (Rufus Sewell), confirming his relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein.
McAlister is a single mum, relying on her mother for child care and under pressure from her bosses to obtain a bombshell interviewee, something she exceeded with. She develops a rapport with Prince Andrew’s private secretary Amanda Thirsk, played by Keeley Hawes. The film follows McAlister’s tough negotiations with Thirsk, who is desperately wanting to let Prince Andrew save face.
Despite the outcome of the interview being know to the audience, it is thrilling to watch how the Newsnight team prepares and carries out this interview, making the audience feel a sense of relief when the intense, ardent Maitlis (Gillian Anderson) concludes her interview. It gives a feeling of reassurance that Prince Andrew is rightly going to continue to be publicly shamed, and days later lose his titles over his sordid relationship with Epstein. Scoop put the spotlight onto how competitive the media landscape is, opening with a statement from the BBC announcing job cuts.
It was imperative that Newsnight was able to score a good interview and prove the BBC’s journalistic integrity and value. The drama also gives a brief insight into the power of the media, and also focuses on a different aspect of journalism - photo journalism. Jae Donnelly, played by Connor Swindells is a photographer based in New York who took the iconic photo of Prince Andrew and Epstein walking together through Central Park. Years later his photographs were still relevant and able to aid McAlister in her research in the run up to the interview.
The characterisation of the BBC team and Prince Andrew was spot on, with Anderson and Sewell having the luxury of the real interview at their disposal to fuel their inspiration and ability to morph into their characters and recreate the right body language and tone. However, as a viewer, it makes you wonder how much actually happened, for example the comments Prince Andrew made in the preinterview meeting: “I knew Jimmy Saville so much better” and moments before the interview: “trousers” - referring to Maitlis’ option for trousers over a dress or skirt. It leaves the viewer wondering how much of it was fictionalised to make him look worse and the Scoop appear more sensational.