The director of Mr Bates vs the Post Office has urged the creation of a “mechanism” for British broadcasters to continue to tell campaigning stories as he communicates a desire for his smash ITV drama not to become a “unicorn.”
04.04.2024 - 15:09 / variety.com
Guy Lodge Film Critic It’s no great slight to “Scoop” to say that it’s no more compelling than the real-life news broadcast on which it pivots. It’s also no less compelling than said broadcast, which was, after all, a doozy: the 2019 episode of “BBC Newsnight” in which anchor Emily Maitlis interviewed Prince Andrew about his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It was a coup that saw the Duke of York roundly convicted in the court of public opinion, and led to him being stripped of his royal titles. But Philip Martin‘s slick, pacy Netflix film isn’t especially interested in the fallout, or indeed in the Prince’s experience at all — instead procedurally tracing the media machinations and negotiations that enabled the interview in the first place, and pointedly centering the newswomen, on screen and off, who made it all happen.
Underlining the enduring impact of the story, “Scoop” is the first of two projects this year inspired by the interview. The second, the Amazon miniseries “A Very Royal Scandal,” starring Ruth Wilson and Michael Sheen, will boast Maitlis’ own blessing as an executive producer.
Martin’s film is differently authorized, handing the same credit to the less celebrated party whom it takes as its effective protagonist: Sam McAlister, the former “Newsnight” booker who doggedly secured the Prince’s participation in the interview, and from whose memoir Peter Moffat and Geoff Bussetil’s script has been drawn. It’s an instructive shift in perspective, making “Scoop” the story of a scrappy underdog fighting two mighty British institutions — not just the House of Windsor, in all its impenetrably protected prestige, but the BBC itself, initially presented here as a staid, even classist
.The director of Mr Bates vs the Post Office has urged the creation of a “mechanism” for British broadcasters to continue to tell campaigning stories as he communicates a desire for his smash ITV drama not to become a “unicorn.”
Despite the breakdown of their marriage causing a scandal within the Royal Family, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew have maintained a close relationship over the years.
Scoop, the Netflix film chronicling Prince Andrew‘s humbling interview on the BBC, has enjoyed a relatively regal reception from British audiences.
Welcome to ElectionLine’s A View From Abroad series, in which we speak with media figures who don’t live in America but keep a close eye on its politics. Every few weeks, these smart observers will provide a unique perspective on what promises to be a fraught and unpredictable campaign for the White House. This week, our interview is with Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel, the former BBC presenters who now host podcast The News Agents – USA.
prerecorded clip shared on March 22, the Princess of Wales revealed her health woes to the world, saying doctors discovered her cancer during a planned abdominal surgery in January.According to a British YouGov poll, the Princess, 42, has since become the nation’s most favored member of the royal family between February and April of this year.Back in February, before her diagnosis was known to the world, the Prince of Wales held a strong 77% rating as Britain’s most-liked royal, with his wife following closely in the second spot at 74%.But at the start of April, the mom of three’s rating increased in the days after her shock cancer announcement, boosting her popularity to 76%, with William’s sliding to 73%.What’s more, the third most-liked royal is William’s aunt, Princess Anne, who is known for stepping up to the task when the going gets tough.Anne, the Princess Royal, is liked by 71% of the UK population, proving just how popular she is.In fourth place is King Charles, who himself is currently battling cancer.The monarch, 75, holds a 63% popularity rating on his home soil, while his younger brother Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, sits at 54%.The King’s wife, Queen Camilla, follows behind with a 50% rating.As for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — the runaway royals — it seems as though the pair’s popularity plunged soon after they shut the door on royal life in 2020.The Duke of Sussex’s popularity rating sits at 31% as the “Suits” alum’s rating follows closely with 26%.Still, the pair are placed significantly higher than scandal-scarred Prince Andrew, whose woeful rating lands him in the bottom spot at just 6%.The Duke of York has consistently ranked the lowest since his alleged friendship with convicted pedophile
Prince Andrew had a close call when he nearly ran over a dog at Windsor, before seemingly laughing the episode off with relief.The Duke of York was thought to be driving down the Long Walk on the Windsor estate in his black Range Rover when pedestrians frantically alerted him to a black dog that had wandered into the road. It seemed that Andrew hadn't noticed the dog and it was his bodyguard who spotted the reactions of the people and told him to stop.Thankfully, the car stopped just in time and the dog's owner looked embarrassed as he went to retrieve his pet. Andrew took the whole incident in stride and was seen waving afterwards.
Gillian Anderson had trouble making up her mind about her role in Scoop.
Prince Andrew's infamous interview on BBC Newsnight has resurfaced following the release of its new Netflix dramatisation.
The Duke of York's notorious BBC Newsnight interview is being thrust back into the limelight due to a brand new Netflix dramatisation that premieres on Friday, 5 April.Titled Scoop, the film reveals how the BBC team landed the disastrous interview, which ultimately led to Prince Andrew's exile from Royal life. Actor Rufus Sewell steps into the shoes of the prince, with parts of the interview by Emily Maitlis, portrayed by Gillian Anderson , recreated for the show.The drama also portrays Andrew at his residence, Royal Lodge in Windsor, which he shares with his former wife Sarah Ferguson. However, he previously resided at Buckingham Palace in London, where several assertions have been made about the eccentric nature of his bedroom.
Prince Andrew's life has been significantly altered - his home is in disrepair, he was snubbed at Beatrice's wedding and he's lost his titles. The Duke of York's downfall was triggered by a disastrous BBC interview.
Scoop ( Friday, April 5), centers on Prince Andrew's first sit-down interview about his friendship with convicted sex offender, the late financier, (which later resulted in him stepping down from official royal duties), but the more profound story here is how it happened.That's where Anderson comes in. She plays BBC Newsnight anchor and journalist, Emily Maitlis, who conducted the infamous 2019 interview after months of tenacious work by her producer, Sam McAlister (played by Billie Piper), to secure the booking.“I remember hearing about the interview, but I hadn't seen it right [away],” Anderson tells me over Zoom from her New York hotel room.
EXCLUSIVE: Netflix‘s dramatization of the BBC’s bombshell Prince Andrew interview is proving to be one of the streamer’s most discussed debuts in some time, but one person has largely kept her silence.
Billie Piper has admitted that she is still in debt to Virgin Records.The actress and singer was signed to Innocent Records – a subsidiary of Virgin Records – in 1998, when she was 15-years-old and released her debut single ‘Because We Want To’ on the label.Speaking about the debt, which is reportedly around £9million, she told Jessie Ware‘s Table Manners podcast: “I’m still in debt to Virgin. If I ever release an album, which I won’t, I’d probably have to pay off that debt.
In many ways, “Scoop” is not the movie you think it is. Sure, it’s a behind-the-scenes look at how the BBC television program, er, “programme” “Newsnight” landed a hotly sought-after interview with Prince Andrew in 2019.
On Wednesday’s episode of the Today show, Gillian Anderson talked about Ryan Coogler‘s rumored reboot of the long-running sci-fi series.
Billie Piper has reflected on her childhood friendship with Amy Winehouse, recalling how the singer was bullied because “she was always doing her own thing”.Piper and Winehouse both attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London in the 1990s, and became friends during their time there. Now, in an interview on Jessie Ware’s Table Manners podcast, the former pop star and Doctor Who actor has shared memories of what Winehouse was like during that period.“She was always cheeky,” Piper said.
Gillian Anderson is voicing her opinion on if The Crown should make another season detailing the royal family‘s recent health struggles.
attending an Easter Sunday church service along with his brother King Charles III and Queen Camilla.Also joining the trio were Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Prince Andrew’s attendance at the service comes after the 64-year-old royal faced blowback for leading the procession while attending a memorial for King Constantine of Greece.
One of the stars of The Crown believes the show should not be revived, and that the health battles of Kate Middleton and King Charles should not be brought to screen.
Jennifer Leak, the first wife of Tim Matheson who met when they played step-siblings in the 1968 film Yours, Mine and Ours, has died at 76. She died March 18 at her home in Jupiter, Florida,