Comedian Stephen Merchant has viewers in stitches as he made a dig at Prince Andrew during his interview on The One Show. The Outlaws and Extras star joked about the Duke of York's famous interview with BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis as he was asked if he had any plans to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
BBC Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce was asked first on the BBC chat show and he said he would be commentating on the Platinum Party Party at the Palace. "So I'm looking forward to that," he told hosts Emma Willis and Ronan Keating.
The hosts then turned to fellow guest Stephen, whose BBC comedy Outlaws returns to BBC One on Sunday, and asked what he would be doing. And he replied: "The jubilee? The problem is my show's on isn't it so I feel like I'm going head to head with the Queen."
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He continued: "It's quite a tricky one isn't it? Quite a difficult one to compete with." And he added jokingly: "I'll watch anything that involves royals ... Emily Maitlis talking to Prince Andrew, anything."
Viewers took to Twitter to comment on the moment. @stephen19822 said: "Quality Prince Andrew gag on the #TheOneShow" And @jameshoggarth said: "Quite an ending to The One Show from @StephenMerchant."
@TheTruthSword laughed: "Lol @StephenMerchant. ‘I'll watch anything that involves the Royals. @maitlis talking to Prince Andrew, I’m up for anything.” Superb #oneshow" And @Carolinefj1 tweeted: " Just saw @StephenMerchant trolling the royal family live on #TheOneShow. 'I'll watch anything to do with the royals - Emily Maitlis talking to Prince Andrew. All of it!''"
And @sharkey74 said: "I loved that, so matter of fact in the delivery."
During the Emily Matlis interview screened in November 2019 the prince was quizzed in Buckingham Palace about his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and claims that he slept with Virginia Giuffre who alleged she was trafficked to have sex with him when she was 17, a minor under US law. Prince Andrew has strenuously denied all allegations.
The world heard his defence, about a birthday party in Woking, a trip to Pizza Express, and his inability to sweat. Earlier this year Prince Andrew and Ms Giuffre reached a settlement in the US civil sex claim filed against the royal.
