In a revealing look back at Prince Andrew‘s notorious 2019 Newsnight interview, it appears that even the production team was taken aback by some of his remarks.
The interview, conducted by Emily Maitlis, was filled with eyebrow-raising claims, but one particular comment left the behind-the-scenes staff utterly stunned.
During this infamous broadcast, the Duke of York made headlines for various extraordinary assertions, including his inability to sweat and his alibi of being at a Pizza Express in Woking when he allegedly had sual encounters with Virginia Giuffre.
These bizarre defenses painted a picture of a man seemingly unaware of the gravity of the allegations against him.
Sam McAllister, the interview’s producer who played a pivotal role in securing this controversial sit-down, is now preparing to share her experiences in a memoir.
This book chronicles the intense 13 months of negotiations leading up to the interview, capturing the tension and anticipation that surrounded the event.
Interestingly, McAllister’s story has also inspired a Netflix drama titled “Scoop,” featuring prominent actors like Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell.
As McAllister reminisced about that fateful day, she described her position just 15 feet away from Andrew during the interview.
She recalled being acutely aware of every detail, from the ornate chair he occupied to the nervous tapping of his foot on the carpet.
The pressure of the moment was palpable, and she found herself struggling to maintain a neutral expression as shocking statements poured forth.
There were moments, she admitted, when she could hardly believe what she was hearing.
In an effort to contain her astonishment, McAllister often had to divert her gaze to the floor.
It became increasingly evident that Andrew was delivering a masterclass in self-sabotage, all while he seemed convinced that the interview was progressing in his favor.
One particularly tense moment arose when Maitlis confronted Andrew with a direct question about whether he had engaged in sual relations with Giuffre or any other young women associated with his former friend, Jeffrey Epstein.