‘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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Another Prince Harry book? 'Spare Us!' gives his memoir the parody treatment

Prince Harry's tell-all memoir 'Spare' is getting a parody spoof with 'Spare Us! A Harrody' to be released next month. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-03-23 19:59:45 UTC ]
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[ World Literature Today | 2023-03-08 20:54:52 UTC ]
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An army of Prince Harries is intimidating shoppers.

The portrait is stern, defiant, of bountiful hairline. Shot by Ramona Rosales for the cover of Prince Harry’s memoir Spare, it planted a flag in the golden Californian soil and hung a shark-tooth necklace around the decrepit institution it set out to eviscerate. Tiled in your local Barnes &... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-03-03 15:21:13 UTC ]
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Heroes of the Written Word: Novels Starring Comic Book Characters

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'M3GAN' and 'Get Out' producer Blumhouse is moving into horror games

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[ Engadget | 2023-02-21 16:50:41 UTC ]
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‘Libraries, You Are My Heroes’: Readers Share Memories of a Favorite Haven

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New Aussie drama Bad Behaviour gives us a complex portrayal of girlhood and queer stories

Stan’s new series adapted Rebecca Starford’s memoir gives brutal and honest insight into the consequences of bullying. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2023-02-17 02:14:58 UTC ]
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‘I broke out in a cold sweat’: could you stomach seeing your memories of bullying play out on TV?

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[ The Guardian | 2023-02-14 14:00:16 UTC ]
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If You Loved Prince Harry's 'Spare,' Here Are Some Equally Juicy Celeb Memoirs

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[ HuffPost | 2023-02-09 10:45:21 UTC ]
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[ The Millions | 2023-02-08 11:00:46 UTC ]
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Book Review: ‘Holding Fire,’ by Bryce Andrews

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[ The New York Times | 2023-02-07 10:00:30 UTC ]
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10 of the Weirdest Moments From Prince Harry’s Memoir

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[ Book Riot | 2023-01-25 11:39:00 UTC ]
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Prince Harry Memoir Led 1.2% Rise in Print Book Sales Last Week

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-25 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Steep discounts reign supreme for Prince Harry's mega-marketed memoir Spare

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[ CBC | 2023-01-21 09:00:00 UTC ]
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Prince Harry Ruled Book Sales Last Week

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-19 05:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Guardian | 2023-01-17 16:13:57 UTC ]
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Commentary: Prince Harry's memoir mercilessly trashes the royal family. He didn't go far enough

In 'Spare,' the Duke of Sussex attacks just about everything but the real source of his woes: the British monarchy itself. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-01-17 14:00:28 UTC ]
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Prince Harry told his story in his own words. But what happens now?

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