A Very Royal Scandal recreates Prince Andrew’s Pizza Express declare

A Very Royal Scandal has recreated the moment Prince Andrew denied allegations of sexual assault by way of a Pizza Express alibi.

In a clip shared exclusively with Femail, the Duke of York, played by Michael Sheen, says he could not have had sex with Virginia Roberts – who claims she slept with the royal in 2001 – because he was out with Princess Beatrice at the pizzeria in Woking.

The Amazon Prime Video series, released tomorrow, follows actress Ruth Wilson, 42, who plays former Newsnight journalist Emily Maitlis, 54, in a retelling of the car crash interview involving Prince Andrew back in November 2019.

He was quizzed about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein which threatened to damage the reputation of the entire royal family.

Andrew has always strenuously denied the claims he sexually assaulted Roberts and in 2022 paid millions to her to settle a civil case out of court, saying he never met her. The three-part show has not claimed to be fully factually accurate.

In an exclusive video ahead of the show’s release, actor Michael portrays Prince Andrew during the moment he denied the claim that he had been in the nightclub, Tramps, with a 17-year-old Virginia Roberts, now Giuffre. 

The clip sees Ruth’s Emily asking Michael’s Duke if he remembers meeting Virginia, who claimed she had sex with Andrew when she was just 17, to which the prince claimed he had no recollection.

‘I have no recollection of ever meeting her, in fact I’m convinced I was never in Tramps. There are a number of things wrong with that story, one of which is that I don’t know where the bar is in Tramps.

‘I don’t drink, I don’t think I’ve ever a bought a drink when I’ve been in Tramps,’ says Andrew in the clip. 

Emily then asks the prince if he recalls the night, to which he tells her he was in Pizza Express.

‘On that particular day, to which we now understand is the date that is 10th March, I was at home, I was with the children. I’d taken Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking for a party at around 4pm or 5pm in the afternoon.’

The clip also shows the famous moment when Andrew explains why he remembers that particular occasion.

‘Because going to Pizza Express in Woking, is an unusual thing for me to do. A very unusual thing for me to do. I’ve never been,’ he says.

The scene also shows moments from the behind the scenes, when BBC producers worried that viewers would notice when Emily tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, in the piecing together of the interview.

In the clip, Emily asks, ‘Can you tell?’ to which Sam McAllister reassures her ‘you can’t tell’. 

The miniseries will be released tomorrow following Netflix’s version of the interview in the film, Scoop, which was released on April 5, 2024. 

Also starring in the show is Joanna Scanlan (After Love, Notes on a Scandal) as Amanda Thirsk, Alex Jennings (Your Christmas or Mine?) as Sir Edward Young, Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment) as Stewart Maclean and Claire Rushbrook (Secrets & Lies) as Sarah Ferguson.

Netflix’s Scoop first recalled the tale from the perspective of the BBC producer, Sam McAllister, portrayed by a near unrecognisable, Billie Piper.  In Amazon’s take on the infamous interview, the role will be taken by Clare Calbraith.

The first version of the story also starred Rufus Sewell of A Knight’s Tale, playing the disgraced Prince, while Sex Education’s Gillian Anderson assumed the role of Emily.    

According to pre-release views, the new series has been praised by critics for leaving Scoop – the Netflix drama released earlier this year about the same interview – ‘in the dust’.

Others publications branded it a ‘thrilling’ drama that Prince Andrew will ‘struggle to recover from’.

The Times wrote: ‘Is the series self-admiring? Yes, inevitably. But there is much to admire. 

‘It is also complex, touching on Maitlis’s guilt at the hurt caused to Beatrice and Eugenie and the fact that the conversation wasn’t about Jeffrey Epstein’s victims but about dismantling the Queen’s second son.

‘It is not perfect, but it is highly entertaining and, in my opinion, a better piece of television than.’

Meanwhile The Spectator gave a damning verdict for Prince Andrew suggesting he will ‘struggle to recover’ from the show.

Of the scandal they wrote: ‘Only the most generous, or blinkered, would not suggest that the wider royal family lives with the embarrassment every day.’

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.

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