Emily Maitlis calls new drama based on Prince Andrew's Newsnight interview 'ridiculous'
The unforgettable interview between Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew is being brought to life in a new Prime Video drama. The 2019 sit-down, where the Royal addressed his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and denied allegations of sexual assault made by Virginia Giuffre, is being dramatised across three episodes.
Ruth Wilson, known for her roles in Luther, His Dark Materials and The Woman In The Wall, will be stepping into Emily's shoes. "I had seen the interview when it went out live, and I was utterly gobsmacked," confesses Ruth. "I thought it was one of the best pieces of drama I had ever seen on TV.
Ruth continued, "I found this story fascinating because it goes behind-the-scenes of these two public figures. I have never played a journalist before so it was really a huge challenge for me, playing a public figure that we all know."
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Emily served as an executive producer on the show, giving an insight into what really happened on the day of the interview. But how did Emily feel about the story being retold and having Ruth take her place?
"Objectively, it does feel ridiculous there's no doubt about it! " Emily laughs. "Ultimately, it's an extraordinary privilege to have a world-class actress, literally one of Britain's best, not just playing you but really trying to understand your role, your job, your work, your actions, your voice. I'm bowled over, really, that she wanted to take on the role, and I feel incredibly privileged and happy that it was Ruth."
Michael Sheen transforms into Prince Andrew for the role, and Emily shared some behind-the-scenes insights with him.
"I spent a lot of time talking to Michael about elements of the interview that you couldn't get from the actual tape; Andrew's demeanour before the interview and how happy he was afterwards," she reveals. Michael describes filming the interview scenes as "intense".
"The interview is the heart of the piece so there was a lot of pressure. And something else I found interesting is that this story still needs to be out there, and not brushed under the carpet," he reflects.
Watch A Very Royal Scandal on Thursday 19 September, Prime Video