A FORMER Newsnight producer has revealed the awkward moment Princess Beatrice listened to Prince Andrew being grilled by Emily Maitlis off-camera.
Appearing on Lorraine, Sam McAlister revealed what went on behind-the-scenes while filming the 2019 interview.
Prince Andrew gave an interview to Newsnight in 2019 to dispel rumours of his association with Jeffrey Epstein
A Newsnight producer claims Princess Beatrice watched the whole interview
The hour-long TV special was supposed to dispel rumours about the Duke’s association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein but ended in PR disaster.
Just before the cameras started rolling at Buckingham Palace, Sam – who was written the book Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews – says they were told that a “special guest” would be watching the interview.
She explained: “My deputy editor Stuart McLean was there and he goes, ‘oh I’ve brought someone with me.’
“Now I’m an ex-criminal defence barrister so I’m thinking, ‘it’s going to be a lawyer – this is over.’ […]
“And then it’s Princess Beatrice.”
The Newsnight producer claims the Duke‘s eldest daughter was sat across from her father just out of view of the cameras during the whole interview.
She added: “Imagine speaking about the things we had to talk about in that tiny room – face-to-face with her father who is accused of those heinous acts.”
The duke – who was later stripped of all royal duties – was grilled over his links with dead paedo Jeffrey Epstein, his pal Ghislaine Maxwell and allegations he had sex with a 17-year-old.
During the interview, Andrew said he had “no recollection” of meeting Virginia Roberts Giuffre – who he is alleged to have had sex with at Maxwell’s house in London.
He even provided an “alibi” claiming that the night the alleged encounter took place he was at a Pizza Express birthday party in Woking with his daughter Princess Beatrice.
After filming wrapped, Sam says she turned to a Royal Executive Assistant and asked her she thought it went.
Sam claims she replied: “Wasn’t he wonderful?”
What’s more, the former producer says Prince Andrew took Emily Maitlis and the team on a tour around Buckingham Palace afterwards.
However, Sam says she excused herself early because she “couldn’t face” the Duke asking her how he thought he’d come across.
It comes amid reports that the disastrous interview is set to be turned into a movie – with Hugh Grant rumoured to be lined up to play the Duke.
Last month, socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was jailed for 20 years for abusing and grooming dozens of girls for Epstein.
The Duke agreed to a £12million settlement with sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre in February.
Prince Andrew gave the Newsnight team a tour around the Palace afterwards
Former producer Sam McAlister says she left early because she ‘couldn’t face’ Prince Andrew asking her how it went
