BBC Newsnight producer behind 'car crash' Prince Andrew interview that inspired Scoop reveals 'incredibly crass' quip about Jimmy Savile in Netflix drama was 'artistic license'

The BBC Newsnight producer behind the 'car crash' 2019 interview with Prince Andrew has revealed that an 'incredibly crass' quip about Jimmy Savile made in the new Netflix drama of the scandal was 'artistic licence'. Speaking on Channel 5's The Jeremy Vine Show on Wednesday, Scoop author Sam McAlister was pressed on a line in the show where Rufus Sewell, playing the Duke of York, says he was 'close to friends with' alleged child sex offender Jimmy Savile. McAlister appears on The Jeremy Vine show on April 10 to discuss royal approval ratings Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell appear in 2024's Scoop on Netflix Andrew's character is seen insisting he did not understand the fuss about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, adding that he in fact 'knew Jimmy Savile much better'. The ex-BBC journalist, played by Gillian Anderson in Scoop, was criticised for giving an in-depth interview explaining how the scoop came about, but failing to mention McAlister Sam, who is portrayed by Billie Piper in Scoop, has previously accused presenter and interviewer Emily of failing to properly acknowledge her pivotal role in securing the interview Emily Maitlis & Sam McAllister winners of The BBC News and Factual Award attend the 30th Women in Film & Television Awards on December 3, 2021 in London, England In February, it was reported Moffat would also write a screenplay based on the contaminated blood scandal for ITV.