Sam McAlister — former BBC Newsnight producer and author of Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews — has given extensive behind-the-scenes commentary on how the infamous interview with Prince Andrew, Duke of York came to be. She recounts how her original approach was for a routine charity-profile, but as the scandal involving Jeffrey Epstein intensified, she persuaded the palace to agree to a sit-down that would include “the news issues that were pertinent” — including Epstein. She says she was shocked at how open and responsive Andrew seemed during the negotiations, which gave her confidence the interview would proceed.

McAlister also states that, in the direct lead-up to the interview’s broadcast, Andrew believed he had succeeded — he reportedly gave the BBC interviewing team a tour of Buckingham Palace, smiled and seemed upbeat, giving the impression he expected the exposure to vindicate him. She observes that his tone shifted dramatically as the fallout emerged, noting: “He was in fine spirits!” after filming, even as the answers rolled out in the final cut that would crash his reputation.


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