In a recent interview, Sam McAlister, a former BBC Newsnight booker, shared her experience securing what would become an infamous interview with Prince Andrew amidst his connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The interview, which has been dramatized in Netflix’s new film, Scoop, took nearly a year to secure.
In her conversation with All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly, McAlister revealed the nerve-wracking process of convincing Prince Andrew to participate in an uncontrolled and serious interview. According to her, it was the opportunity to regain his former reputation that finally convinced the prince.
McAlister shares that she was able to maintain an impassive face throughout the tense interview due to her experience as a criminal lawyer, stating that it was “a masterclass in showing no emotion whatsoever.” The interview ended up being the turning point in the scandal with Prince Andrew stepping back from royal duties soon after.
Reflecting on the experience, McAlister admits she knew the interview would have significant consequences, but she didn’t anticipate that it would result in Prince Andrew stepping down from his royal duties. The full experience has been immortalized in the Netflix film Scoop.
Vocabulary Insights:
- Amidst /??m?dst/ (preposition): Surrounded by; in the middle of.
- Convicted /k?n?v?kt?d/ (adj.): Proven or declared guilty of an offense.
- Nerve-wracking /?n?rv?ræk??/ (adj.): Causing stress or anxiety.
- Reputation /?r?pju?te???n/ (noun): The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something.
- Impassive /?m?pæs?v/ (adj.): Not feeling or showing emotion.
- Scandal /?skændl/ (noun): An action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage.
- Anticipate /æn?t?s?pe?t/ (verb): Expect or predict.
Vocabulary List:
- Infamous (adj.): Well-known for a bad quality or deed.
- Secure (verb): To obtain or acquire something.
- Dramatized (verb): To represented in a dramatic way.
- Tense (adj.): Reflecting mental or nervous tension.
- Immortalized (verb): To make something unforgettable or everlasting.
- Significant (adj.): Important or notable in being distinct or different.
