Prince Andrew’s Newsnight Interview Set for Film Adaptation

Peter Moffat (Criminal Justice, HBO’s The Night Of) is set to adapt the inside story behind Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interview in a feature film.

Titled Scoop, the movie will be produced by The Lighthouse Film & TV and co-produced by Voltage TV. It is based on chapters from the new book by former Newsnight producer Sam McAlister, Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews, and tells the story of how the show secured the now-infamous chat with the royal.

Scoop will explore everything from the first failed approach to the Palace through the high-stakes negotiations with the prince and his team. It will also delve into the stress and pressure of rehearsal, the interview itself and the fall from grace of the royal. Production on Scoop is due to begin in late 2022.

The Lighthouse was launched in 2020 by Hilary Salmon, Radford Neville and Nick Betts, the BBC team behind Luther, Criminal Justice, House of Saddam, Three Girls and The Night Of.

Moffat said: “What the hell did he think he was doing? Who got him to do it? Why, when the rest of the world was so appalled, did he think it had gone so well? What kind of a man is this? In researching the film and talking to those on the inside of this extraordinary story, I got the answers to all these questions. They’re provoking, often surprising, sometimes disturbing—and I think they make for a compelling story about power and abuse and journalistic courage.”

Salmon said: “Sam’s book vividly chronicles the moment-to-moment drama that led to that most revealing and jaw-dropping of TV events. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Sam’s story to life.”

McAlister added: “To have a production team of the caliber of The Lighthouse and a writer like Peter Moffat making a feature film is beyond my wildest dreams. I can’t wait to see Peter and The Lighthouse bring this extraordinary story to the screen.”