Channel 4 is set to mark its 40th birthday with a satirical musical about the Queen's disgraced son, Prince Andrew. The 60-minute programme will be written by comedian Kieran Hodgson and will join a whole host of other shows that celebrate 40 years since the channel was created in 1982.
The new musical has been described as a "satirical send-up of the life and times" of Prince Andrew and will be set to a musical score. Written by and starring Two Doors Down actor Hodgson as Andrew, it will include original music by Freddie Tapner. The story will centre on "key events, relationships and controversies of Andrew’s life". The announcement of the project comes after ITV Lorraine viewers were told there's a "jaw-dropping" photo of Prince Andrew in existence that could cause "serious embarrassment to the Royal Family. You can read more about that here.
Produced by Hat Trick Productions, the new show will also include a ‘reimagining’ of the Duke’s notorious 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, which is also set to be made into a film called Scoop, based on ex-Newsnight producer Sam McAlister’s book and with a screenplay by the acclaimed Peter Moffat.
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Prince Andrew notably stepped down from public life in November 2019, following the fallout from the BBC interview about his friendship with convicted sex offender and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who died in August of that year. Earlier this year, the Queen's second son made an out of court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who claimed that he had sexually abused her when she was 17 years old after she was trafficked by Epstein.
The prince denied the allegations, and there was no admission of liability in the deal he reached, for an undisclosed sum thought to be in the region of £12million.
Channel 4 have revealed that the tentatively titled, 'Prince Andrew: The Musical', will join shows that "are set to do what Channel 4 was created for: to give voice to the unheard, say the unsayable and show the unseen," for the special anniversary.
To mark the special occasion, there will also be a revival of Friday Night Live with host Ben Elton and a new Frankie Boyle-fronted commission, as well as "an arts event like no other that will include stunts, surprises and special guests", hosted by comedian Jimmy Carr.
Ian Katz, Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer, said: "From musical satire about Prince Andrew to an exploration of cancel culture in art via men with very large penises, this season shows that Channel 4 is still as mischievous, disruptive and distinctive as when it was born 40 years ago.
"Instead of a nostalgia-thon of highlights from the last four decades, we are celebrating with a collection of irreverent, thought-provoking and hugely entertaining shows that no other broadcaster would air. If we must age, we plan to do it disgracefully." For more showbiz and television stories, get our newsletter here.
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