Scoop writer Sam McAlister has opened up about the highly-anticipated upcoming Netflix film.
Sam is the producer who secured a Newsnight interview with the Duke of York back in 2019. The upcoming Netflix film recreates Prince Andrew's infamous BBC Newsnight interview in 2019 with Emily Maitlis, who will be portrayed by Gillian Anderson.
It is based on Sam's memoir, Scoops: The BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews from Prince Andrew to Steven Seagal, which documents the "high-stakes negotiations with Buckingham Palace" through to the BBC’s headline-making interview with the Duke of York.
In the upcoming film, Sam is played by Doctor Who star Billie Piper, starring opposite Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew and Gillian as Emily. And the attention to detail with make-up and costume were so spot on, Sam has revealed that people could not tell her apart from Billie on set, including her own boyfriend.
Appearing on Thursday's Lorraine, Sam said: "You just can't make this up really, can you? I mean I wrote the book, you were kind enough to have me on about, you read it, my mum, maybe my cat... here we are with a Netflix movie on the red carpet next to Billie Piper, who plays me in a movie basically about my life."
Lorraine Kelly then said of Billie's portrayal: "But she so got you! Actually, people mixed you up when you were on set?" to which Sam revealed: "On set, even my own boyfriend got confused!"
Pointing out the "eye for detail" with Billie's portrayal, Sam added: "The wig, I think she should have her own programme, to be clear! She's a cracker and we should give her a name!"
It comes as Sam said at the red carpet of the Scoop premiere: "The humanity that Billie brings to the role is what really made me proud because I feel she does justice to my journalism, of course, and the journalism of the team.
"But to me as a human being she worked so hard to make sure that I was happy, and I could not be happier." It comes as Rufus Sewell revealed his five-word response after agreeing to take on the role of Prince Andrew in new upcoming Netflix drama Scoop.
The Holiday star, 56, spoke to Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain to talk about the highly-anticipated series. Rufus admitted he deliberated whether to take on the role and upon accepting it, he had a five-word response as he admitted he thought afterwards: "What have I just done?"
Scoop launches on Netflix on 5 April and Lorraine continues on weekdays at 9am on ITV. *Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.