‘Kicking a dog while it’s down’: New satirical TV musical targets Prince Andrew

The disgraced Prince Andrew will be the subject of a new satirical TV musical, set to dive into the Duke of York’s public relations nightmare interview in which he addressed controversies surrounding his friendship with convicted sex offenders, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

British broadcaster Channel 4 announced the 60-minute show Prince Andrew: The Musical as a “satirical send-up of the life and times” of the Prince.

“Kieran Hodgson leads a cast of comics in a satirical send-up of the life and times of Prince Andrew, set to a musical score,” the broadcaster said in a statement.

“Written by and starring Hodgson as the Prince himself, with original music co-written by Freddie Tapner, the story centres on the key events, relationships, and controversies of Andrew’s life, including a reimagining of the former-HRH’s bombshell interview with Emily Maitlis in which the man behind the headlines faces the music.”

The Sun reported the musical will feature a number called My Profiterole which will be about the Duke of York’s relationship with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and how he won her over with delicious desserts.

Royal commentator Robert Jobson said the musical feels like a cruel jab, adding to Andrew’s shame.

“It will pile more embarrassment on Andrew,” Jobson told The Sun. 

“His public life is already over. This almost feels like kicking a dog when it’s down.”

This is the second entertainment feature surrounding the Prince and his infamous BBC Newsnight interview, with an upcoming film titled Scoop set to be released, dramatising how the network managed to gain rare access to interview and film the disgraced royal.

“I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady.”

The Duke of York has spoken for the first time about his links to Jeffrey Epstein and the allegations against him https://t.co/YfWs2EAi6v

FULL INTERVIEW: Saturday 21:00 @BBCTwo with @maitlis#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/zy7jvnRPJp

— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) November 15, 2019

The behind-the-scenes negotiation will make a “very thrilling drama”, its screenwriter Peter Moffat told Deadline.

“How was it that he decided it was a good idea to do a great big long interview with Emily Maitlis on the BBC?” said Moffat, who had previously worked on BBC drama Criminal Justice and its US remake The Night Of. “Quite often covers up for the bad stuff, that’s what I think,” he added.

Despite the Prince denying all allegations against him, the Queen stripped him of his military titles and royal patronages, leaving him unable to use the title of His Royal Highness in any official capacity.