A Very Royal Scandal

Obviously huge chunks of this docudrama are fictionalised as it portrays what was going on behind the scenes leading up to, during and after the controversial BBC interview with Prince Andrew. We see a lot of Andrew's family and Royal advisors and Emily Maitlis' family and colleagues at the BBC (By the way, I think this is far better dramatisation than the recent version starring Billie Piper which was told through the eyes of a BBC researcher.) Michael Sheen must be one of, if not the best character actors of his time. He does not particularly resemble some of the characters he portrays but with excellent input from wardrobe and make up and his ability to deliver lines with the mannerisms of these people he is utterly convincing in the part. It is thus the case with his portrayal of Prince Andrew. Ruth Wilson is very good to in the role of Emily Maitlis.

I think it was an appropriate we do not see any of the Royal family other than Andrew's immediate family portrayed on screen. Mummy and Charles speak to Andrew over the phone and we do not see or hear them. We do have a lot of fictionalised dialogue between Andrew, his daughters and ex-wife Fergie. And some rather cringing scenes with Andrew's staff especially Amanda Thirsk played by Joanna Scanlon. This we should take with a pinch of salt and not as a historical account. We can assume that Emily Maitlis is happy with the depiction of her input into the interview and family life as she was plugging the drama on GMB the day before it dropped on Amazon Prime.

I binge watched all 3 episodes because it is such a good dramatisation not because I wanted to know how it ended.

I've viewed the first (of 3) episodes and really enjoyed it. It's a 'grown up' production, beautifully filmed and with a pace and editorial that engages you from the start. The acting is superb, particularly Michael Sheen as Price Andrew. It's a substantial piece of work covering the before, during and after the interview and I very much look forward to watching the 2 remaining episodes. It's fun too!

PS - the reviewer ExiledRoyal notes that as the production is shot in letter box format, the top and bottom black bars are frustrating. The reviewer might like to adjust the settings on their television so that the set can adjust to the format. I get a full screen with no image miss and no black bars.

This show on Prime is apparently Season 3 of "A Very English Scandal" instead of its own title called "A Very Royal Scandal" as it is advertised. I searched for "Royal" and was at a loss. I checked the date, and it should be available, but it wasn't there. Just for fun, I selected the Hugh Grant series and went to Season 3, and there it was!

So far, only through one episode, but it's really well done (assuming you know a bit about the story in advance). It's hard to write a review this long without giving anything away. I guess I'll add by saying it's odd they chose to start this miniseries where they did, an interview that's about to happen with no context as to why the interviewer is so flummoxed.

Happy viewing! Hope others find this useful in locating the show.

One star docked for Ruth Wilson's Elizabeth Holmes Theranos CEO type voice. What were they thinking? It was so obviously put on and fake. Took me right out of the drama. Is she angling to play Margaret Thatcher in future?

I loved the actress who played Sarah Ferguson and Michael Sheen is always good, but when I first heard he was playing Prince Andrew I was really surprised. I just didn't see how he could pull it off, but wow he did... And without a silly voice! He really captured the look and feel of a man in turmoil. That embarrassed type of anger when someone knows they have been caught out. That is skill.

Watched all three, back to back on the day it dropped on amazon. Amazing fantastic brilliant was my opinion of this excellent beautifully constructed drama. Ruth wilson as Emily Matis, and Michael sheen as Andrew were as they always are fantastic in there roles as was all the supporting roles with for me a special nod for the actor who played the Queens Private secretary. I personally also thought it was better than the BBC version they did a little while ago although that was also very good. So I highly recommended this amazon three part drama. Please don't think because you watched the original interview, that's it . Because it's far more than that.