17 Dec 2022

Sam McAlister: the woman behind that Prince Andrew interview

From Saturday Morning, 8:10 am on 17 December 2022
Sam McAlister

Sam McAlister Photo: supplied

In November 2019 a BBC interview with Prince Andrew sent shockwaves around the world. He was hoping to deflect sexual assault allegations, and distance himself from Jeffrey Epstein. 

Instead, the interview was declared a "trainwreck" and the fallout so great he was stripped of his duties and military titles.

This was one of many exclusive interviews secured by "booker extraordinaire" Sam McAlister, a former producer on the BBC's Newsnight programme, who also convinced Elon Musk, Sheryl Sandberg and Stormy Daniels to sit in the hot seat.

She has now released a book: Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC's Most Shocking Interviews.