Michael Sheen to Play Prince Andrew in 'A Very Royal Scandal'

Michael Sheen and Prince Andrew

While The Crown is coming to an end, another member of the British royal family is getting the TV treatment. A Very Royal Scandal, which is currently in production in the UK, is based on Prince Andrew's infamous Newsnight interview with journalist Emily Maitlis, who memorably pressed the Duke of York about his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Before Prince Andrew's interview is depicted on the small screen, here is everything to know about A Very Royal Scandal, including its release date and cast.

What is A Very Royal Scandal about?

The series will follow Newsnight journalist Emily Maitlis in the lead-up to her interview with Prince Andrew, according to Prime Video.

Prince Andrew, who is currently eighth in line to the throne, is the third child of the late Queen Elizabeth and younger brother of King Charles III. Days after his Newsnight interview aired, Buckingham Palace released a statement from the Duke of York, announcing that he was stepping back from public duties.

"It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support," the Duke of York said. "Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission."

Andrew continued, "I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein. His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure. I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required."

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When did Emily Maitlis interview Prince Andrew?

The Duke of York sat down with Maitlis at Buckingham Palace in 2019. During the interview, Andrew addressed his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Asked by Maitlis why he wanted to speak out at the time, the Prince replied (via BBC), "Because there is no good time to talk about Mr. Epstein and all things associated and we've been talking to Newsnight for about six months about doing something around the work that I was doing and unfortunately we've just not been able to fit it into either your schedule or my schedule until now."

Maitlis also asked Andrew about allegations leveled against him by Virginia Giuffre (neé Roberts), one of Epstein's trafficking victims who accused the royal of having sex with her while she was underage.

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The Prince told Maitlis that he had "no recollection of ever meeting" Roberts and was convinced that he was never at Tramp nightclub with her, as she said he was, because on the date that was "being suggested," he was home with his children, and had taken daughter Princess Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking that afternoon. As for why he remembered "that so specifically," Andrew answered, "Because going to Pizza Express in Woking is an unusual thing for me to do, a very unusual thing for me to do. I've never been… I've only been to Woking a couple of times and I remember it weirdly distinctly. As soon as somebody reminded me of it, I went, 'Oh yes, I remember that.' But I have no recollection of ever meeting or being in the company or the presence."

Maitlis told Andrew that Roberts "was very specific about that night" and that "she described dancing" with him, and him "profusely sweating." The royal then told Maitlis, "There's a slight problem with the sweating because I have a peculiar medical condition which is that I don't sweat or I didn't sweat at the time and that was… was it… yes, I didn't sweat at the time because I had suffered what I would describe as an overdose of adrenalin in the Falkland's War when I was shot at and I simply… it was almost impossible for me to sweat."

Andrew added, "And it's only because I have done a number of things in the recent past that I am starting to be able to do that again. So I'm afraid to say that there's a medical condition that says that I didn't do it so therefore…"

Giuffre sued Andrew for alleged sexual abuse. The case was settled, with royal experts speculating that Queen Elizabeth II largely contributed to the survivor's payoff.

What is the release date for A Very Royal Scandal?

The limited series does not have a release date just yet, but watch this space for updates.

How to watch A Very Royal Scandal

A Very Royal Scandal will be available exclusively on Prime Video.

Related: Everything to Know About the Final Season of The Crown

Who is in the cast of A Very Royal Scandal?

Good Omens actor Michael Sheen will star as Prince Andrew, while The Affair's Ruth Wilson will play Emily Maitlis. The cast also includes Joanna Scanlan as Amanda Thirsk, Alex Jennings as Sir Edward Young and Éanna Hardwicke as Stewart Maclean.

Michael Sheen as Prince Andrew

Ruth Wilson will play Emily Maitlis

Joanna Scanlan as Amanda Thirsk

Alex Jennings as Sir Edward Young

Éanna Hardwicke as Stewart Maclean

Where to watch Emily Maitlis' real-life interview with Prince Andrew

Before the Amazon MGM Studios limited series airs, you can watch Maitlis' actual interview with Prince Andrew below:

Next, See How the Cast of The Crown Compares to the Real Royals They Play