‘She was an unsung hero’: Billie Piper on playing producer Sam McAlister in a new drama about Prince Andrew’s Newsnight fiasco

In Scoop, the story behind the prince’s disastrous TV appearance, Piper plays McAlister, the woman who landed the interview. They discuss their unlikely alliance, the pitfalls of fame and the extent of Andrew’s delusionsThe Netflix film Scoop, which retells the story of how Newsnight landed its infamous, eye-popping 2019 interview with Prince Andrew, has a strong Working Girl vibe, which may be one reason why I enjoyed it (I’m talking about the Oscar-winning 1988 movie, in which Melanie Griffith plays a girl from Staten Island who dreams of climbing the corporate ladder). In part, this is thanks to the blond wig worn by one of Scoop’s stars, Billie Piper, which comes with a powerful whiff of the late 1980s. Mostly, though, it’s because Peter Moffat’s screenplay pitches Piper’s character, Sam McAlister, as a plucky outsider surrounded by somewhat toffee-nosed types who only finally begin to take her seriously when she lands the TV exclusive to end them all. One minute, her lip is trembling with the unfairness of it all. Why do her bosses disdain all her brilliant ideas? The next, she’s at Buckingham Palace telling the queen’s favourite son to his face that his brand is distinctly grubby and could do with a generous spin in the Newsnight washing machine.Was it really like this? When I meet Piper and the real life McAlister at Netflix HQ in the weeks before Scoop has its premiere, I hope vaguely to get to the bottom of some of the gossip that trails it; there’s talk, for... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2024-03-31 06:00:30 UTC ]
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Billie Eilish to publish book with Wren & Rook

Hachette UK imprint Wren & Rook is releasing a photo book from singer and songwriter Billie Eilish. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-12 16:40:47 UTC ]
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Child's Play picks up two more from Romani author Richard O’Neill

Independent publisher Child's Play will publish two more picture books by Romani author Richard O’Neill, as part of his Romani Tales series.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-06 20:26:51 UTC ]
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Indies report slowing sales as nervous shoppers play safe

Indie bookshops in Tiers 2 and 3—which, unlike Tier 4 shops, can still open their doors to customers—have reported a change in customer behaviour this week, with reduced footfall since the government's warnings and further restrictions at the weekend.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-23 07:59:52 UTC ]
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Happy 10th Birthday, Google Play Books!

Reading books is for nerds, right? Well, that depends on your definition of "nerd," I suppose. While I must confess to not being a regular reader, I greatly admire those that are. Reading is surely a better way to spend time than mindlessly watching sports on TV -- something I am quite guilty of... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2020-12-09 18:41:58 UTC ]
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Jeremy O. Harris is donating a collection of plays by Black writers to libraries across the country.

On Late Night with Seth Meyers this week, Slave Play and Daddy playwright Jeremy O. Harris announced he is donating a collection of 15 plays by Black playwrights to 53 libraries and community centers across the United States—and is donating one such collection to Northwestern University in Seth... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-12-09 17:29:54 UTC ]
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Andrew Bolt flees Melbourne for 'bush' of Mornington Peninsula | Weekly Beast

News Corp columnist felt ‘threatened’ by Melburnians accepting lockdown. Plus: Rudd on ‘Murdoch playbook’After months of a “claustrophobic” lockdown under a “crazy government”, News Corp star columnist and broadcaster Andrew Bolt has sold his $2.8m four-bedroom federation home in Melbourne and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-12-04 02:34:48 UTC ]
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Andrew Hunter Murray | 'I wanted the story to be the uncovering of a secret about this world'

Andrew Hunter Murray was out walking when an image occurred to him: a still Earth, half in light, half in darkness, no longer rotating. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-27 04:30:33 UTC ]
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‘The Freezer Door’ is an aching, playful memoir of vivid desire amid the desperation of midlife disconnection

Queer activist Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore’s book is alive with the existential nausea of being displaced. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-11-24 13:00:00 UTC ]
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ALA Announces Finalists for 2021 Andrew Carnegie Medals

The two medal winners will be announced by selection committee chair Bill Kelly at the Reference and User Services Association’s Book and Media Awards (BMAs) event, which will take place online on February 4, 2021, 3-4pm CST. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-11-20 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Here’s the shortlist for the 2021 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.

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[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-17 15:48:43 UTC ]
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Adele Parks signs film deal with Netflix series producers

Adele Parks has struck a film deal with the producers of a series of hit Netflix franchises. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-16 14:37:11 UTC ]
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Michelle Harrison | 'We’ve still got superstitions all around us and I love playing on that'

A family curse trapped the three Widdershins sisters on the prison isle of Crowstone in A Pinch of Magic. The sequel, A Sprinkle of Sorcery, took them across the marshes and waves to a secret island not found on any map. In February, Simon & Schuster Children’s Books will publish the third... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-13 07:14:55 UTC ]
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Lucy Jago | 'It really mattered to me that I didn’t play fast and loose with the facts'

In 1615, a sensational public murder trail took place  in London. The victim, courtier and poet Sir Thomas Overbury, had died in 1613 while a prisoner in the Tower of London, but his death was only investigated two years later as wild rumours swirled around the court of James I. The whispers... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-10 17:39:33 UTC ]
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Prince Charles pens foreword for Southgate's life lessons

Century has scored a foreword from HRH The Prince of Wales, president of youth charity The Prince’s Trust, for England football manager Gareth Southgate’s upcoming book Anything Is Possible. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-09 14:53:52 UTC ]
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Andrew Bolt's 'gloating' over US election result trumped by reality | Amanda Meade

Sky TV hosts celebrate Donald Trump’s re-election too early. Plus: Woolworths partnership with News Corp sparks backlashAndrew Bolt was so excited late on Wednesday afternoon when he believed “Donald Trump seems to have won again” he warned Herald Sun readers he might just gloat on his Sky News... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-11-06 00:46:48 UTC ]
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First Bookshop Heroes list unveiled

A new annual initiative celebrating the best of bookselling in the UK and Ireland sees 29 Bookshop Heroes hailed for their efforts in reaching readers with books—and beyond. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-05 23:21:06 UTC ]
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Bookshop Heroes share top bookselling tips

Some of our inaugural Bookshop Heroes — the best individual booksellers in the UK and Ireland — share the skills that are key to running a bookshop.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-05 16:20:56 UTC ]
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Lee and Andrew Child's The Sentinel stands guard in top spot

Lee Child's 25th Jack Reacher title The Sentinel (Bantam), written with his brother Andrew, has gone straight to the UK Official Top 50 number one spot, with 55,751 copies sold. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-03 03:50:06 UTC ]
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‘The Cold Millions,’ Jess Walter’s celebration of forgotten heroes, is one of the most captivating novels of the year

What might have been an earnest historical novel about the labor movement is transformed by Walter’s irresistible voice and characters. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-10-29 12:00:00 UTC ]
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ALA Announces Longlist for 2021 Andrew Carnegie Medals

In all, a total of 46 books (26 fiction, 20 nonfiction) were selected, with a six-title shortlist—three each for the fiction and nonfiction medals—to be announced on November 17. The two medal winners will be announced during an online event set for February 4, 2021. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-10-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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