‘Scoop’: Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell star in Netflix’s film about that BBC Newsnight interview

Netflix has unveiled the trailer and release date for Scoop!

What is it all about?

Inspired by real events, SCOOP gives a behind-the-scenes account of the negotiations between the BBC Newsnight team and Buckingham Palace staff, that ultimately led to the now-famous interview by Emily Maitlis with Britain’s Prince Andrew.

The fallout from this ‘scoop,’ which focused on his close friendship with a convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein,  led to the public disgrace of the prince. He had been accused of the sexual assault of a minor, in a case that was later settled out of court for £12 million.

The film was directed by Peter Martin (The Crown), and the script was written by Peter Moffat, based on Newsnight producer Sam McAlistair’s book Scoops: Behind The Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interview.

The film highlights the unrelenting efforts of the women who worked behind the scenes to scoop one of the biggest news stories of the decade. In the drama, McAlister (Billie Piper – Dr Who), Emily Maitlis (Gillian Anderson – The Crown), and editor Esme Wren (Romola Garai – The Hour) track the story from beginning to end. Forced to navigate the tough negotiations with the prince’s private secretary Amanda Thirsk (Keeley Hawes – The Durrells) and the various obstacles in their way, the team eventually succeeds in their mission to bring their greatest story to a global audience.

When’s the release date?

Scoop will premiere exclusively on Netflix globally on Friday 5 April 2024.

Watch the trailer here: