As a seasoned journalist and witness to the events that unfolded during the infamous Panama Papers investigation, I found the portrayal of my personal life and experiences in the drama series, “Andrew and Emily,” both fascinatingly close yet subtly distant. While I commend the team for their meticulous research and sensitivity towards my privacy, I must admit that it was a bit unnerving to see scenes from my private life reenacted on screen, even if they were only loosely based on real events.
In the first person, as a follower:
It’s a story which has been dramatised before – earlier this year, in fact, in Netflix film Scoop, which starred Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell.
Given that Maitlis is the producer for this new project, how accurately does it portray actual events, and what creative liberties were taken for dramatic purposes?
Read on for everything you need to know about the true story behind A Very Royal Scandal.
What is the true story behind A Very Royal Scandal?
The television drama titled “A Very Royal Scandal” is based on Emily Maitlis’s 2019 book, “Airhead: The Imperfect Art of Making News,” with a particular focus on her 2019 Newsnight interview involving Prince Andrew.
The interview with the royal was broadcasted on BBC Two on the 16th of November. During this interview, Maitlis inquired about the royal’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein, a well-known American financier and convicted sex offender who passed away in his prison cell in August of that same year.
The interview response from the Prince sparked a significant PR predicament, as his answers to Maitlis’s questions garnered unfavorable reactions and were frequently ridiculed on social media and in newspapers.
On November 20, 2019, it became known that Prince Andrew would be stepping back from his public engagements “indefinitely.” Later in May 2020, it was revealed that he had chosen to permanently step down from all public roles.
In January 2022, the Queen took away Andrew’s military titles and charity roles he had previously held.
From a passionate movie buff’s perspective: I wasn’t just captivated by the on-screen interview itself, but also by the way it was meticulously crafted – the build-up to it, the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that secured and scheduled this high-stakes event by Newsnight, and the ripple effects it had in its wake. The aftermath wasn’t just about Andrew and Maitlis, but also those surrounding them, creating an intriguing web of emotions and consequences that made the drama even more compelling to watch.
How close does A Very Royal Scandal stick to reality?
During a recent question-and-answer session for “A Very Royal Scandal”, author Jeremy Brock praised Maitlis as a “very cooperative partner”, mentioning that they frequently conversed to gather authentic details and personal stories to incorporate into the script of the drama.
For me, there comes a time when one must detach and personally internalize the material, envisioning Emily and Andrew as characters within a narrative. This shift is vital and significant in my creative process.
He continued: “You’re looking at it for the questions that it raises around the triangulation between power, privilege and pursuit of truth, the way that the establishment realpolitik works in truth, there’s a kind of nexus also between entertainment and justice.
As a movie buff putting it in my own words, I ponder if the Newsnight interview truly manages to expose the truth and challenge authority as intended, or if it gets lost amidst the endless whirlwind of entertainment and opinion that surrounds us in our 24/7 media landscape. Instead of serving as a platform for investigation or a peek behind the curtain, might it instead transform into an entertaining spectacle starring Andrew and Emily?
So, it appears that although most of the plot is rooted in actual occurrences, additional scenes and dialogues are likely incorporated to enrich the narrative, and to delve deeper into specific thematic discussions.
Spectators should understand that the show features numerous scenes depicting aspects of Andrew’s personal life and connections, yet it’s important to note that the creators did not have direct involvement with Andrew himself, despite thorough investigation.
In her podcast with Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall, titled “The News Agents,” Maitlis likewise delved into the extent to which the drama mirrors actual events.
She conveyed to Goodall: “Initially, I exerted great effort to ensure everything was authentic and precise. Let me emphasize, my team was exceptional, and they were exceptionally considerate towards those delicate matters. I believe, if the circumstances had been different or the approach taken by others, it might have unsettled me.
However, it turned out that everyone understood it well. We’d have conversations at my place, and I’d often ask questions like, “If this is Christmas, would you prefer a Christmas tree or a Menorah?” My response was always casual, something like, “Oh yeah, I’d love both.” So, initially I aimed to make it closely reflect my life, but as you pointed out, it suddenly dawned on me.
Instead, I found myself saying, “To tell you the truth, I’m hesitant about that plan. I prefer keeping my children and home out of the spotlight, and I don’t want any specific details from my personal life to be revealed.” Essentially, I felt the need for some parts of my reality to remain less explicit.
Instead of using our family home in the project, I decided to make my kids appear younger, as I felt it would be less awkward for them to see themselves portrayed. This process turned out to be an exercise in detachment, I guess.
In her interview, Goodall expressed that it was particularly challenging for her to ensure accurate portrayals of her colleagues within the series, and she stated, “The most difficult aspect for me was capturing the essence of others accurately.
“What I found most effective in the drama was that the writer immediately asked multiple team members to share their memories and perspectives about the events.
Additionally, I found this extremely beneficial as it confirmed that it wasn’t only my perspective, but a collective one. He reached out to several members from the initial interview team, which provided us with a comprehensive understanding of everyone’s memories and insights regarding the event.
In a different phrasing, this passage could be: “I wasn’t present during those discussions, so I would review the script after he spoke with Stew, Esme, or Jake – all part of our editorial team. I often found myself questioning, ‘Did that actually happen?’, to which he responded affirmatively. However, I was never informed about it at the time.
Maitlis clarified: “At the conclusion, I assumed the entire interview was scrapped, but they never informed me about it being canceled. Instead, they chose not to disclose this information to avoid alarming me, acting more like guardians.
Maitlis mentioned that she appreciates how the script includes a multitude of personal narratives, with each individual’s memories contributing to the overall composition, thus giving it depth and richness.
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2024-09-19 10:35