Amanda Thirsk, who served as Prince Andrew’s private secretary and his most senior staff member at the time of the viral interview at Newsnight, lost her job after Prince Andrew’s office was moved from the palace.
Scoop is a 2024 biographical drama that takes us behind the scenes of a pivotal moment in British history.
The film revolves around the women who orchestrated the “Scoop of the decade” that led to the downfall of Prince Andrew.
It was during a televised interview at BBC that focused on Prince Andrew’s relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Further, during the interview, allegations of Andrew’s sexual assault of a minor were discussed.
Moreover, Amanda Jane Thirsk played a crucial role in the downfall of Prince Andrew, as depicted in the movie.
Amanda Thirsk’s Role In The Interview That Led To Significant Consequences For Both Her And Prince Andrew
In the movie Scoop, Keeley Hawes portrayed the role of the former secretary of Prince Andrew, Amanda Thirsk.
Amanda played a pivotal role in the interview, which had far-reaching outcomes for both her and the Prince.
It started when Prince Andrew, a member of the Royal Family, faced intense scrutiny due to his association with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
Amanda Thirsk recognized that silence was not an option for the Prince. She believed the Prince needed to address the situation publicly and clear the air before public accusations escalated.
So, when Sam McAlister, junior producer at BBC Newsnight, approached Amanda, she was intrigued by the interview proposal.
@allthingshawes . Hello. Love , #keeleyhawes is Amanda Thirsk in #Scoop, based on Sam Mcalister’s book, who negotiated sitting in which Duke Andrew was interrogated about his friendship with Jeffrey Spstein. The movie premieres in the spring on #Netflix #allthingshawes .♥️🙏 pic.twitter.com/XH2NxTkPSW
— kmariass (@MariaSa21016180) February 6, 2024
Amanda thought that a Newsnight interview might help restore balance and clear Prince Andrew’s name.
Unfortunately, this decision turned out to be a significant mistake, and the interview further worsened the situation.
After pushing for Prince Andrew to agree to the interview, Amanda Thirsk parted ways with him during its fallout.
Similarly, Prince Andrew was stripped of his honorary military titles and prevented from using his HRH styling.
Amanda Thirsk’s Life After The Termination As Prince Andrew’s Secretary
After leaving her role as Prince Andrew’s personal secretary, Amanda Thirsk has now transitioned to a new career.
She works in a high position in a Senior Business Development role at JD.com, a prominent e-commerce group in China.
Further, she previously worked as a director at Pitch@Palace for six years, from 2014 to 2020.
However, she lost her job after the venture’s corporate partner, including Barclays, pulled out of the charity.
How’s your day gong? A beautiful , beautiful Amanda Thirsk from #Scoop . Well , watching it on #Netflix , it’s fabulous.🖤👀#keeleyhawes #Keeleyhawesnews .♥️ thanks you .🙏 pic.twitter.com/sNB0Yy8OOm
— kmariass (@MariaSa21016180) April 7, 2024
Moreover, Amanda received a five-figure settlement from Buckingham Palace following her termination.
Her journey from royal service to a different professional path is a consequence of her decision to let Prince Andrew take the interview.
Despite her competence and dedication as Prince’s secretary, her pivotal decision to support the televised interview changed her life.
Additional Information
- The Netflix movie Scoop, directed by Philip Martin, was released on 5 April 2024.
- Some notable cast members in the Netflix film Scoop are Gillian Anderson as Emily Maitlis, Billie Piper as Sam McAlister, and Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew, including Keeley Hawes as Amanda Thirsk.
- The biographical drama film includes real-life stories and provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the process of securing Prince Andrew’s 2019 BBC television interview.
