3.5/5 stars
The word “scoop” – or these days “exclusive” – is so overused in journalism as to be rendered almost meaningless. But when the BBC’s Newsnight team convinced “the Queen’s favourite son” Prince Andrew to do an interview in 2019, it truly was the scoop of the century.
The association between “Randy Andy” and convicted billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein had dogged the British royal ever since an infamous 2010 photo taken of them together in New York’s Central Park.
The interview with Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis was meant to clear the waters; instead, it made him a laughing stock.
Billie Piper plays Sam McAlister, the journalist whose book Scoops inspired the script; Romola Garai is her no-nonsense colleague Esme Wren and Connor Swindells is Jae Donnelly, the photographer who snapped the prince and Epstein in New York.
Rufus Sewell, as Prince Andrew, makes a fine fist of bringing the royal to life, with a clipped voice, an air of arrogance and a comical haughty laugh.
The script by Peter Moffat and Geoff Bussetil doesn’t offer any major revelations, especially if you’ve paid attention to the various Epstein documentaries and podcasts that have delved into how a wealthy associate of Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew got away with “industrial” levels of trafficking of young girls for his and his friends’ sexual pleasure.
That said, there are some nice details, including the presence of Princess Beatrice at her father’s first meeting with Maitlis and co. Martin also smartly cuts between the two parties as they prep for the interview, rehearsing their questions and answers as if they were in front of each other.
Inevitably, familiar references to the Prince’s baffling statements about sweating and that Pizza Express in Woking will raise a smile. But it’s the exchange between Andrew and Maitlis after the interview that’s truly priceless.
“I thought that went very well,” he says, oblivious to how he’s about to become a global meme. “Like a walk in the park,” she replies, a clear nod to his earlier indiscretion with Epstein.
Scoop also takes care to ensure Epstein’s victims are not forgotten, notably Virginia Giuffre, who said he paid her to sleep with Prince Andrew and who ultimately settled out of court with the British royal. It’s a worthy reminder of the horrors behind this sensational media story.
Scoop will start streaming on Netflix on April 5.
