Emily Maitlis reveals Prince Andrew request after Newsnight interview

Emily Maitlis has revealed the awkward request she received from Prince Andrew after their notorious Newsnight interview ended. 

The journalist serves as an executive producer on the upcoming Prime Video series A Very Royal Scandal – a retelling of the 2019 interview.

The interview was widely branded a ‘car crash’ for the Duke of York, but Emily has now revealed that he actually wanted to spend even more time talking about sweating and Pizza Express.   

Emily – who is portrayed in the series by actress Ruth Wilson – also opened up about the interview’s surprising impact on her career opportunities afterwards.

Of Prince Andrew’s request, she said: ‘Once we’d finished the interview, I said as a courtesy, “Is there anything that didn’t get included that you wanted to discuss?” and Prince Andrew said, “Well actually, there were a couple of things. You didn’t include my alibi”.

‘He wanted to talk about the fact that he’d been at Pizza Express on the night in question. 

‘And it was a very complicated moment for us because, on the one hand, I knew that if he included some of the stuff that he wanted to talk about, for example the sweating and the Pizza Express alibi, it was not going to help his case, in fact, it was actually going to make it look worse.’

Emily added: ‘I felt kind of a responsibility to not let him walk into that, but on the other hand, I also felt a responsibility to include the things that he had said were important to him to say.’

The News Agents presenter went on to reveal how it was more difficult to get interviews afterwards as it scared people off. 

‘It’s a curious thing actually, on the one hand, you’d think it might make it really easy to get people to do interviews with you because they’ve seen your interview and they’ve heard of you, ‘ she said.

‘And on the other hand, nobody wants to do an interview with you because they’ve seen your interview and they’ve heard of you! 

‘So, I think it’s slightly double-edged. Some people come towards you, and some run a mile.’

Emily attended the London screening of the Prime Video drama on Monday alongside Ruth – who plays the journalist in the retelling. 

The pair took to the red carpet on Monday for a special screening of the drama at London’s at Ham Yard Hotel, joined by actor Michael Sheen – who portrays the Duke Of York.

Ruth looked chic for the screening in a striking plunging black midi-dress, complete with dramatic spiked straps. 

Meanwhile Emily was sparkling in a fully-sequined red high-necked, cap-sleeved gown.

Also in attendance for the screening was Welsh star Michael, 55, who will play the prince during the disastrous interview. 

Michael looked dapper in a navy suit and white shirt as he posed alongside his co-star Ruth.

Amazon Prime released the trailer for upcoming drama A Very Royal Scandal on Wednesday, after announcing when it will drop on the streamer.

Set to retell the story of Prince Andrew’s ‘car crash’ interview the dramatisation stars Michael as the Duke of York and Ruth as journalist Emily.

The three part series will premiere on 19 September exclusively on Prime Video in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

It comes just five months after rival streaming platform Netflix ‘s version, which was out on April 5.

In the trailer, Wilson’s Emily can be seen pursuing the story that would make her a global household name and destroy the Prince’s reputation in a pivotal moment in British history.

Before the interview, the Duke of York quips: ‘I’m going to blow this out of the water.’

He adds in a voiceover: ‘I’ve been warned about you. You have a bit of a reputation.’ 

Emily then cheekily responds, while sitting across from him: ‘Well, for you, I’ll try and behave.’

It then cuts to the interview and then its aftermath, where Emily says: ‘I was only ever hoping to ask the right questions.’

The upcoming series by Amazon MGM Studios will focus far more on Emily – who serves as an executive producer, whereas Netflix’s Scoop focused on Prince Andrew.

A spokesperson for Amazon confirmed the series will ‘follow Emily Maitlis’ professional and personal journey as a Newsnight journalist, leading up to her acclaimed interview with Prince Andrew.’

A press released added: ‘A Very Royal Scandal follows the action of Emily and Prince Andrew in the lead-up to the interview, the ground-breaking event itself and the many questions left in its wake that would change their lives forever.’

The first episode sees Prince Andrew attempt to declare his innocence as he finds himself at the centre of an international scandal while Newsnight presenter, Emily, does everything within her power to secure an interview with him.

The second instalment features the interview but the meeting takes various twists and turns that neither Emily, nor the Newsnight team, could have expected.

Finally, in the third episode Prince Andrew is left to navigate the fallout for himself, his family, and the Royal firm as Emily considers her reputation and the future of her career.