Prince Andrew squirms again on Netflix’s Scoop. But who benefits from these ‘real-life’ dramas? | Elle Hunt

They attract millions, but the viewer never quite knows if it's just entertainment or a way to process recent, seismic events

When Prince Andrew appeared on Newsnight in November 2019, he dispelled any lingering doubt in the notion that truth is stranger than fiction.

If you can recall - and let's be honest, who can forget? - the Duke of York made a series of startling claims when called on to address his close ties with Jeffrey Epstein, among them that retaining a relationship with the convicted child sex offender was the right thing to do". There was also the alibi that hinged on a children's party at Pizza Express in Woking and his lack of ability, at the time, to sweat.