Scoop

After directing a handful of episodes for Netflix drama The Crown, Philip Martin turns his attention to another chapter in the royal family’s recent history with Scoop, which chronicles how tenacious journalist Sam McAlister (Billie Piper) landed the infamous Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew (played by a magnificent Rufus Sewell). It was a moment of TV history, which spawned countless memes about the prince’s seeming inability to sweat and his affinity for a Pizza Express in Woking and led him to be stripped of his royal titles. The Netflix drama is a feminist story of women fighting to ensnare a powerful abuser. It’s a pacy drama that’s carried by strong performances. However, the script is weighed down by a handful of subplots that are of little consequence.

Piper’s McAlister is a force to be reckoned with onscreen. Walking into the office to the tune of Don’t Rain On My Parade, she refuses to take any flack from her male coworkers who don’t see her as a team player. She’s a single-mother underdog who must constantly fight to stay afloat, with Piper being excellent in the role. Sewell is likewise outstanding as Andrew. Although the puts on a cheerful face to make guests and the press feel welcome, there’s an awkwardness to his demeanor that shows he’s naive to the world outside the palace walls. Nowhere is this better seen than in the interview scene in which he confidently makes ridiculous statements with a complete lack of self-awareness. Rounding out the cast is Gillian Anderson as Newsnight host Emily Maitlis, who delivers a flawless performance despite only appearing briefly throughout the film.

Despite its speed, this feature nevertheless suffers from extraneous padding when it comes to its handful of subplots. Additions of McAlister not having much time to spend with her son or a workplace colleague disapproving of her behaviour serve to further humanise the protagonist and add an extra layer of drama. However, neither of these plot points come with any sort of satisfying payoff and could have been cut from the finished film entirely without viewers missing anything of note.

Although there are some bumps along the way, Scoop does what it set it to do while being led by a strong central cast.

Andrew Murray

Scoop is released on Netflix on 5^th April 2024.

Watch the trailer for Scoop here: