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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Kirsty McCormack

Woman who negotiated Prince Andrew interview says he was 'bomb waiting to go off'

The woman who negotiated Prince Andrew's appearance on Newsnight has claimed he was "a bomb waiting to go off".

Sam McAlister, who for 10 years was the interviews producer on the flagship BBC news programme, appeared on Tuesday's This Morning to discuss the unforgettable interview with the royal.

Prince Andrew agreed to sit down with presenter Emily Maitlis on November 14, 2019 at Buckingham Palace, where he was questioned about his friendship with convicted paedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Sam was instrumental in making the unforgettable interview happen, but admitted to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield that she "still can't believe it".

Sam McAlister appeared on Tuesday's edition of This Morning (ITV)

"When I started the negotiations which was ages, months and months before this came to air, and obviously never really thought it was gonna happen because who would say yes to being on Newsnight when you're accused of the things you're accused of there?" Sam explained.

"I never for a second believed that this negotiation would be successful," Sam continued, before admitting she had to "sit there with a poker face" when she first heard some of Prince Andrew's comments.

Prince Andrew sat down with Emily Maitlis on November 14, 2019 at Buckingham Palace (PA)

"What was your reaction when he started to say that stuff on camera?" Phil asked Sam, referring to the royals comments about sweating.

"I still can't believe it. When I was watching the clips just now, I still can't believe that that was said on camera because who in their right mind would say that?" Sam replied.

"I was looking at the floor trying not to laugh, because imagine if I was your producer and I laughed during that, I mean I'd be straight to the Tower!"

Sam spoke in detail about the negotiations to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby (ITV)

Holly later asked: "Do you think he regrets it?" to which Sam said: "I think he was a bomb waiting to go off. He wanted to say something, he wanted to vindicate himself. Now I know that seems ludicrous now, but nobody thinks they're going to do a bad interview.

"He thought he would explain himself and he thought this would all go away. So I suspect if he went back, he would still do an interview but I doubt it would be with Emily and I doubt it would be with Newsnight."

However, This Morning viewers tuning in at home weren't overly impressed with Sam's appearance and took to Twitter to comment.

"This woman loves herself doesn't she #ThisMorning," one person said, while another tweeted: "Why are they even talking about it #thismorning."

A third person claimed: "#ThisMorning Another book that nobody is interested in reading."

This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV Hub.

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