Netflix fans go wild over 'absolutely brilliant' new drama but are surprised by a shock cameo

Netflix fans have gone wild over a new drama that they have hailed as 'absolutely brilliant'.

 Scoop was released in the UK today, chronicling Emily Maitlis' infamous interview with Prince Andrew, which caused the Royals to announce the duke would step back from public duties just days after it aired in 2019.

British household names starring in the biographical drama include Gillian Anderson and Billie Piper as Newsnight's Emily Maitlis and Sam McAlister, the BBC TV producer who secured the car crash interview. 

The disgraced prince is played by Rufus Sewell, famed for his portrayal of Count Adhemar of Anjou in the 2001 blockbuster hit A Knight's Tale.   

Directed by Philip Martin, the Netflix film is an adaptation of then-Newsnight editor Sam McAlister's 2022 tell-all book Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC's Most Shocking Interviews.

Brits were quick to gush over the film on X, formerly known as Twitter this morning, lauding its stellar acting and putting powerful women at the helm - and were surprised by a shock cameo.

Netflix' Scoop was released in the UK today, chronicling Emily Maitlis' infamous interview with Prince Andrew, which caused the Royals to announce the disgraced duke would step back from public duties just days after it aired in 2019

Emily Maitlis is portrayed by Gillian Anderson who looks almost identical to the famed broadcaster

A jowly Rufus Sewell plays Andrew and, if you squint quite a lot, you can just about believe it's him!

Less than five years after Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis grilled Prince Andrew, the infamous interview has been dramatised by Netflix

Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew pictured during the real 2019 interview 

Many were gripped by directors' powerful storytelling which focused on Prince Andrew's relationship with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, in addition to his own allegations of sexual assault.

And loyal EastEnders fan may be surprised to see Christopher Fairbank, who plays Eddie Knight, briefly star in the film - as a dog owner who chats to Maitlis in one scene.

One said: 'Spent my morning watching Scoop on Netflix, based on the book by @SamMcAlister1 which documents how that notorious interview with Prince Andrew materialised — it’s utterly brilliant and a really intriguing watch. Highly recommend!'

Another captivated X user added: 'Just watched #Scoop and was spellbound - glued to my seat. But Christ - did we really need to see him naked?!?'

More viewers were impressed by the star-studded cast: 'Well Scoop is absolutely brilliant. Fantastic acting by all'.

The same user was also pleased to see the Prince held to account: 'Very satisfying to see how Andrew taken down by some fantastic women. Hope someone will ask the palace if he's watched it'.

While others were merely there for 'Gillian Anderson and Billie Piper' who they felt stole the show.

Another added: 'Excellent work by everyone in #Scoop, that interview is still jaw dropping'.

Netflix viewers fell in love with Scoop, a dramatised retelling of Emily Maitlis' powerful 2019 BBC Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew, notoriously referred to as the 'car crash interview'

And one penned: 'Spent my morning watching Scoop on Netflix, based on the book by @SamMcAlister1 which documents how that notorious interview with Prince Andrew materialised. It’s utterly brilliant and a really intriguing watch. Highly recommend!' 

But others were left perplexed that Netflix was chosen to stream the tale: 'It seems strange that #Scoop which is about an achievement by the BBC is on Netflix not the BBC. 

'You would have thought the BBC would want to brag about something they did good for once'.

Rufus Sewell opened up while appearing on Good Morning Britain, where he detailed 'obsessively watching the Newsnight interview for hours'.

Speaking on his thoughts after getting the role, he said: 'I felt I could get behind it then afterwards, when I got the part, I was like "gosh what I have done?" I'm not a natural mimic'.

'I obsessively watched the interview. I watched it at the time like everyone else, I was kind of transfixed for various reasons. Like most people I had my own judgements'.