Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interview about friendship with Jeffrey Epstein to be broadcast as a satirical musical on Channel 4

The satirical musical allows audiences to relive the Duke of York’s car-crash interview with BBC in 2019

Channel 4 is set to reimagine the infamous BBC interview where the Duke of York was asked about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The broadcaster’s hour-long satirical musical is part of a new roster of programmes being released as Channel 4 celebrates its 40th birthday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interview is widely considered to be the worst interview in royal history.

He dismissed all of the allegations about his involvement with Virgina Guiffre and her claims about him sweating heavily in a London club.

Prince Andrew will be the centre of the upcoming satirical musical placeholder image
Prince Andrew will be the centre of the upcoming satirical musical
Andrew said he had 'no recollection' of ever meeting, Virginia Giuffre,  despite them being photographed alongside convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Pic: US Dept of Justiceplaceholder image
Andrew said he had 'no recollection' of ever meeting, Virginia Giuffre, despite them being photographed alongside convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Pic: US Dept of Justice

The Duke responded to the claims while talking to BBC’s Emily Maitlis in 2019, by suggesting that he had a medical condition which prevented him from sweating and said he was at a Pizza Express.

Virginia was trafficked by Epstein on three occasions, including when she was a minor under US law at age 17.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew first met over two decades ago and determined to clear his name, Andrew agreed to the BBC interview.

The fallout from the Newsnight interview led to the Prince stepping down from public life on 20 November 2019.

Prince Andrew speaking about his links to Jeffrey Epstein in an interview with BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis.placeholder image
Prince Andrew speaking about his links to Jeffrey Epstein in an interview with BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis.

Comedian Kieran Hodgson has been tipped to play the role of Prince Andrew in Channel 4’s musical.

It has also been reported that the song ‘My Profiterole’ will feature, based on the Duke of York impressing his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson with the dessert.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Channel 4’s chief content officer, Ian Katz said: “From musical satire about Prince Andrew to an exploration of cancel culture in art via men with very large penises, this season shows that Channel 4 is still as mischievous, disruptive and distinctive as when it was born 40 years ago.

The Freedom of the city of York was granted to Prince Andrew to mark his wedding to Sarah Fergusonplaceholder image
The Freedom of the city of York was granted to Prince Andrew to mark his wedding to Sarah Ferguson

“Instead of a nostalgia-thon of highlights from the last four decades, we are celebrating with a collection of irreverent, thought-provoking and hugely entertaining shows that no other broadcaster would air.”

Katz added: “If we must age, we plan to do it disgracefully.”

The musical comes as royal sources worry that certain dramatisations of the Duke of York’s interview could bend the truth following a “feeding frenzy” to claim credit.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Notably, the two women responsible for getting Prince Andrew on Newsnight are competing to tell the story of the infamous interview.

Channel 4 is celebrating its 40th birthday this November (Pic:Getty)placeholder image
Channel 4 is celebrating its 40th birthday this November (Pic:Getty) | AFP via Getty Images
Prince Andrew's catastrophic BBC Newsnight interview appeared to have been the last straw, as he resigned from duties four days later. placeholder image
Prince Andrew's catastrophic BBC Newsnight interview appeared to have been the last straw, as he resigned from duties four days later.

Former Newsnight Interview producer Sam McAlister reportedly sold the rights to her television show and book ‘Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews’, which details how the interview was secured.

The story will be remade into a film which will premiere later this year, with Bafta-winning screenwriter Peter Moffat on board.

Competing against her former Newsnight colleague is interviewer Emily Maitlis, who has created her own script about the day.

Emily Maitlis interviewed Prince Andrew in 2019 and is reportedly creating her own show based on the infamous Newsnight segment (Pic:Getty)placeholder image
Emily Maitlis interviewed Prince Andrew in 2019 and is reportedly creating her own show based on the infamous Newsnight segment (Pic:Getty) | Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A friend of Prince Andrew commented on the media frenzy when he spoke to the Times.

Mail Online reported the friend, saying: “This latest exploitation for financial gain of a book and a film of what was, and remains, a very difficult time for the family, is unwelcome.

“Not least as the events leading up to and around the interview appear to have elements of dramatic licence.”

Channel 4 turns 40 in November and will air the unscripted shows to celebrate.

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Telling news your way
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice