The story behind Prince Andrew's disastrous interview

"Princess Beatrice was the rainmaker at the negotiations."
Former Newsnight producer and author of Scoops, Sam McAlister, tells Ayesha Hazarika about the challenge of securing that #PrinceAndrew interview for the BBC #TimesRadio
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[@maartjegoede9330]

I still giggle at how Andrew went against his advisory team and thought it was a good idea to do that interview. The pure arrogance of bs'ing your way out of such allegations is amazing.

[@dsgrbrowne1]

That wasnt bull...these rich people from birth; never lived adversity. Had their clothes layed out for them and never any normal consequences, they think it is seriously normal to do things like this. I mean, they are rich, they are royal (have immunity) above the law...things have changed a little bit.

[@jdaniel3068]

It is now September of 2023 and Andrew continues to live his lavish life as a royal. Its all one big club and we arent invited. Kudos to the interviewer and great backstory told.

[@chriswalker2979]

Not only are we not invited to the party we are paying for the drinks!!!!

[@egregal344]

From His and Harry's antics- along with the Kathrine debacle- the Royal family will be very different in the next decade.

[@judyevancic4926]

Let’s face it, he’s not the brightest star in the sky...but he’s arrogant to think he is

[@garyturner5739]

Aren't they all.

[@IdeasExchange1]

@@garyturner5739 Phil the Greek was pretty sharp

[@digbyfox]

Deluded is the word. I wonder if he's figured out how dim he is? Good interview.

[@WOTArtyNoobs]

He was as much a victim of Epstein as the women were.

[@elizabethsheffield6609]

.......and his ex wife's passed her very poor dress-sense onto her 2 daughters judging by those dreadful "hats!"

[@alanshort1401]

😢

[@mrs.tweezers7546]

Being an American who knows very little, that interview was brilliant with a perfect marriage of appropriate respect & complete accountability! A more masterful interviewer is unimaginable. Well done.

[@buggyboogle9]

This is a great interview as well. Such a pity this team is no longer with the BBC. Brilliant stuff.

[@bev9708]

I’ve heard Emily Maitlis speak about this interview in a very open and candid way and of course what shines through is Prince Andrew’s arrogant , entitled and completely out-of-touch attitude … but here with Sam I must say that that hits me yet even more!!

[@SimonGlobetrotter]

Fantastic interview - this is when the BBC is on top of things

[@victorsabattini9499]

WOW….. he has a lot of medals…..he must be a hero.

[@alexbrown4235]

He sweated for them

[@leapinglaura7343]

Lol

[@lorimiller4301]

He got that story off of someone who went through it. It's a real thing. It happened to me. That's how I know it can happen. It lasted over a year. I don't believe it happened to Andrew. He just heard about it and used the story for his own personal excuse. There's no way he's ever experienced that level of extreme stress.

[@richardvanderlaak826]

@@alexbrown4235 🤣

[@gigilaloo4474]

​@@alexbrown4235 😅

[@StellaAdler_]

I watched their interview at least half a dozen times & i just heard it now (i watched it again) I cannot believe that he said what he said & neither she or anyone picked up on it! He said when she asked about when he was in J.E townhouse & HE replied “no, i was in Chicago, because the next day SHE (Virginia) and they all went to the island.” So he DOES know her!!! How the interviewer didn’t register this answer is wild! HOW did we all not notice?! She needs to speak up about this because this is BIG!! This is HUGE!!

[@danduggan3335]

You're brilliant, I'm brilliant, our producers are brilliant, it's brilliant,....

[@serenityflies1462]

If a person is brought up getting away with being rude to staff, never being told no, living in luxury then how can we expect a decent well balanced personality?? Aren't we all products of our upbringing?

[@gregbarber7585]

This is as fascinating as the original interview. Thank you.

[@rubyred6954]

That’s exactly why he bizarrely brought his daughter! How VILE!

[@markdouglas9182]

Excellent discussion on the background of how this interview with Andrew came to be. I'd wondered how this interview was able to be aired? No officials saying - we might not look too good here?! Very nice work..

[@anniewhitmore7627]

Sam is a really interesting and clever lady - fascinating to hear the behind-the-scenes story of this remarkable interview. I remember thinking Emily could have pushed things a bit more but it was still a great interview. She is super bright and charming - a real professional. Shame she has moved on from the BBC after all those years.

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks for posting.

[@robinanderson2758]

She wrote the book pure and simply because she will get well paid and make shed loads of money on sales, silly question. R.

[@BobscratchTurntablist]

Brilliant interview. thank you

[@yogithashetty2587]

Most brilliant interview of the century!

[@robingibbs7911]

The most important information I got from this interview is ; I found out that Sam was a former criminal defense barrister .😀

[@fredferd965]

For better or worse, for good or evil, and for whatever may come of this, it changes nothing, except for one thing - the British public now knows what Andrew really is. What they will do with the information remains to be seen.

[@TrevorBarre]

Oh the grand old Duke of York, he had 10.000 brain cells. Possibly.

[@DJThijzzzz]

I still don't understand why we pay for this foolishness! (I'm from Holland and we have also have a 'Royal Family' who make mistake after mistake)

[@grantmcl]

Why is the top of the interviewee's head cropped?

[@adamm5298]

We get it. You were a criminal defence barrister

[@libbyworkman3459]

People who worked in the palace are now beginning to come out and say that Prince Andrew was the most obnoxious person around. So he must’ve been that way during his marriage also. It is interesting that they are now supposedly very good friends now that they have been divorced.

[@DavidMartins1]

First time I see an interview where you can't see the the interviewee. Is she hiding from the police?

[@WyattRyeSway]

Go towards the 15:00 mark or so and you can see her. Blonde woman, black shirt

[@energybrown]

Very interesting interview. Nicely presented Ayesha.

[@syon600]

What kind of camerawork, cutting the interviewees face in half, @timesradio?

[@TrevorBarre]

Can't look at these films of the House of Windsor without imagining the characters in 'The Windsors', especially Fergie and her daughters.

[@russellwillmoth9734]

What inspired it is the desire to cash in.

[@patricktracey7424]

this is the girls choir you are not allowed to get too closes sir.

[@christinalogan311]

Great interview.

[@leejones8582]

He should be in prison he got off cause the Queen is his Mum and he has millions money can buy you out of any trouble.

[@petrareimann598]

In prison for what? Prince Andrew was never accused of a crime. Jail is for criminals and not for people you personally dislike.

[@chopperaxon6171]

@@petrareimann598 Did you watch the interview? Have you actually interviewed anyone or is the fact he is a Royal blurring your vision? Why was a large sum ( more that you or I earn in several years) paid to "make this go away"? He is guilty as the proverbial, Sin

[@petrareimann598]

@@chopperaxon6171 Of course I did watch the interview, not once but a lot of times here on KZbin. Unlike you I do not talk about things I have no clue of. The media made it much worse than it actually was but people like you are dumb enough to follow the tabloids like blind sheep! Only idiots with no idea about the law consider a settlement an admission of guilt. Actually it is a very common procedure in civil cases. Your question if you were smart enough to think should be why the Guiffretrash agreed although she wanted her day in court? For she knew that she would not have the slightest chance with all the lies of her coming up. Prince Andrew settled for the sake of his family. The trial determined to take place in autumn would have overshadowed the jubilee of his mother. I do not expect you to understand this.

[@arbjful]

@@chopperaxon6171of course he is guilty as sin

[@beckywoodward695]

Explain the grin on his face when he was at ebstines apartment he looked like the cat enjoying the Canary.. He can't hide that.. What a lying JOKE

[@isabelle3855]

Amanda Thirsk received a payout of tens of thousands of pounds, through Buckingham Palace, to settle a Law Suit, and was allowed to continue to serve as the chief executive of Pitch@Palace Global Limited, the private organization which was originally founded by the Duke of York to support entrepreneurs....Pretty Sweet for Amanda! I can't help but wonder why this Woman or even Emily Mmaitlis, the seasoned professionals they are, didn't recognize that Andrew was naive, and maybe they should have reached out to the official Buckingham Palace Communications person to confirm if this interview was indeed OK??? No...They Did Not....they knew Andrew was naive...it's all over her voice and manner throughout this interview. It's almost like, she is mocking Andrew and his daughter Beatrice for being naive. The entire crew at this interview is snickering behind Andrew's back, they know he thinks his interview/his side of the story went well, but no one thinks to speak to the Palace Communications Team before Air. This woman is snickering all the way to the Bank...Meanwhile, a worthy charity that supported British Youth is destroyed, oh and, Emily Maitlis, the tough interviewer, she has since resigned, basically there were many complaints about her Bias Reporting habits - nothing to do with Prince Andrew...just run-of-the-mill BBC Bias! By the way...what is going on with Martin Bashir??? Is he still alive, or is he in Jail?

[@royfr8136]

Praising the interviewer and the producer is like praising a center forward for a great game, when there was no one in goal.

[@TheTim59]

The centre forward still needs to accurately shoot at the goal

[@iristhomsen5987]

❤❤❤

[@angelaphilpott9563]

Every1 seems to-all blame harry & megan for leaving ahead of all this but I bet they new & wanted nothing near them & family , couldn’t get far enough & don’t blame em!!

[@annieroberts1910]

Said the same.. I wouldn’t want him around my children the media would rather go for Harry and Meghan but cowards when it comes to Andrew. Harry is right many hidden secrets in the royal family.

[@xvsupremacy7190]

Andrew had Rachel Angela Megan Markle before Harry .

[@chopperaxon6171]

i seriously doubt they are that Savvy

[@vincentprice4076]

Could you please use the producers last names when thanking them? Afford them the same respect you do a guest when introducing them

[@ispeeeaaakeeewhaaaleee]

I'm I wrong in thinking that this "prins" is not in prison because he's rich?

[@WyattRyeSway]

None of Epstein’s clients were named, let alone arrested. Too many very big fish

[@Shineon83]

…..If this woman could “pat herself” on the back any harder, she would be speaking from France….

[@charlesreilly8053]

Beast

[@Brez6645]

She didn't write the book to make money?

[@hanselmansell7555]

Hang on, Maxwell wasn't arrested until July 21, Andrews interview was Nov19? No worries though, great discussion and what an interview 👏 👍

[@peepindis]

Hi, I know I'm late. My best guess is the 8 month gap was filled with negotiations - both diplomatic and with the FBI. Once those arrived at a stalemate, Ghislaine was arrested. What do you think?

[@alexhaynes7220]

He is innocent until proven guilty

[@cyrilusly]

Anyone notice the walks holding umbrellas not on handle an not on the ground..?

[@iantully8333]

wot was the point of this HE HIS GUILTY OF EVERY THING

[@petrareimann598]

Of everything? And who are you to decide this? A judge? God? Or simply an uneducated ignorant with terribly bad grammar not worth to be listened to?

[@granickgrant.n2820]

Was it a live interview?

[@bluest1524]

Why do they never show the woman being interviewed here!?

[@WyattRyeSway]

Ugh…they do. Just not much. Go around the 15:00 mark and they show her. She is a blonde woman wearing a black shirt. Rather attractive

[@bluest1524]

Thank you, but that was half her face, most of her head cut off, and then they quickly cut away! This is possibly even worse, since we now know there was no rule against showing her... they just failed to do so. It's hard to watch that. @@WyattRyeSway

[@WyattRyeSway]

@@bluest1524 ….good point

[@DdotRay86]

This woman is completely in love with herself.

[@JamesDio-yu5yd]

Bro, she got what everyone at the time wanted. How would you feel this is everyone in their world?

[@juliesmith8312]

I feel sick watching his actions 😊

[@London20258]

Why is the majority of camera time on the interviewer and not on Sam???? Very weird - and when the camera is on her, it's off angle. Times Radio - what an amateur presentation.

[@vladsnape6408]

Andrew is a perfect example of why the British monarchy should be abolished and the money saved spent on Britain's hospital and school system instead. Buckingham palace should be rented out as office space to the highest corporate bidder, probably Google.

[@ml.2770]

How could Lockerbie Andy think he'd give good answers?

[@royfr8136]

Why can't we see her?????????

[@WOTArtyNoobs]

Because Times Radio is terrible with their cameras. They did a video of an interview with Julie Montagu, an American who married into the British Aristocracy and the discussion was brilliant, but the camera positioning meant that she was at the edge of the screen. They also had microphones that were keyed to cut in only if the sound was loud enough, so you could hear some whispers where the mike failed to work. They obviously haven't heard of Shure yet!

[@LizCarruthers-iv6qj]

Andrew not able to walk in sync

[@JoeRivermanSongwriter]

Are we any closer to finding the list of visitors to Epstein’s island?

[@robbryant52]

Like to know whats is IQ

[@AK-gb5kh]

Vip grooming gang

[@Frontier2000AnoDomin]

Good Lord! McAlister doesn't revel in blowing her own trumpet much, does she? "An Interview with HRH The Princess of Wales" had a far greater national (and international) impact than "her" one ever did.

[@just8310]

This was really painful to listen to nothing but a whole lot of British mumbo jumbo and I like how all they show is the announcer and not the person talking

[@WyattRyeSway]

Go towards the end, they show her. Blonde hair, black shirt

[@user-yo2bb7hg6g]

.i can’t berę to even look at the joke of a man

[@rollthetape88]

Megxit is not a thing, back down

[@petronelastelawhite-anca7964]

I absolutely hope Prince Andrew didn't defower his own daughter's, considering that he "disposed " of Lady Sarah Ferguson! Sarah is a great Lady, but could not have the power to have her daughters living with her; though she absolutely adore her 2x children females. If Sarah Fergusson was a Lady who didn't wanted babies then she could have aborted those 2x daughters with Pince Andrew! Poor Sarah!

[@maralynmitchell8261]

They were just out to Get him.I found the Hounding Sickening.

[@fordpopular8792]

The Duke of POKE

[@teebeedahbow]

What a conceited women!

[@KP-yq8id]

Jesus. How many times do you need to say ‘as a former criminal defense barrister…’?

[@Strafuzz]

As many times as she likes

[@WOTArtyNoobs]

I really do not know if I should be congratulating Sam McAllister for this scoop interview, or condemning her for destroying someone who was largely a victim of Epstein's crimes and had generated vast amounts of wealth for the British people by glad-handing so many contracts on behalf of the British Government. It's undeniable that Prince Andrew was a victim of his own ego as well as his stupidity and foolishness to not have a lawyer in attendance to intervene and prevent any statement that would rebound on him. Unlike his brother, Andrew was always the self-confident one. Keen to exert His Royalness 'Highness' to belittle those he met. Yet he was also on the receiving end of a lot of women that threw themselves at him just so they could claim that they bedded a Prince. Giuffre was no exception. She boasted to the other Epstein girls, some of whom she recruited for his harem that she had a photo to prove that she'd slept with a Prince. It might have been fairer if the production team had mentioned Professor Alan Dershowitz who was accused of the same offense by Giuffre in her claim against Andrew. Dershowitz had proof that this was a lie and as part of a sworn court claim also perjury by Giuffre. It should be noted that Giuffre has withdrawn her claim against the Professor and now claims that she was 'mistaken'. Prince Andrew also wants her to admit that she was mistaken about him too. Giuffre has certainly made an awful lot of money from settling similar claims against very wealthy men. She was probably more successful at exploiting people than Epstein was. So in the end, the interview may have exposed a shallow man with an over-extended ego, but you have also victimized someone who was deceived and used by Epstein. Someone who spent his life in the services and then in his retirement worked to procure contracts that helped Britain and then shamed him in front of the world as a sex criminal.

[@WyattRyeSway]

Agree with all you said about Guiffre. She seems a piece of work

[@jmarie9997]

"I'm Stoopid" isn't a defense.

[@kevinscott168]

we need air headed women ?

[@oscarfun100]

They would eat you for breakfast.