No sweat! TV makes a song and dance about Andrew
IT will make excruciating viewing for King Charles and the Royal Family if they tune in over Christmas.
A musical about Prince Andrew featuring a black Charles and a drag queen playing Lady Thatcher is being screened by Channel 4.
The hour-long Prince Andrew: The Musical will focus on ‘key events, relationships and controversies’ in the royal’s life, including his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview.
Andrew, 62, a former friend of billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, paid an out-of-court settlement of up to £12million this year after being accused of sex assault in a US civil case.
But the musical is thought to keep its tone light in a ‘satirical send-up’ which features references to the prince’s famous claim that he does not sweat. Comedian Kieran Hodgson, who wrote the script, plays Andrew while veteran TV funnyman Harry Enfield takes on the role of ex-PM Tony Blair.
Comedian Munya Chawawa plays Charles and Baga Chipz, who starred in RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, is Margaret Thatcher.
The role of Miss Maitlis is taken by Emma Sidi, who has appeared in BBC comedy Starstruck.
Jenny Bede, from Murder In Successville, plays Andrew’s exwife Sarah Ferguson.
Channel 4 has not yet revealed the screening date but it is understood to be over the festive period. Hodgson, in his early 30s, who starred in the film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, said: ‘The story of Prince Andrew is tragedy and farce rolled into one, so why not add “musical” for good measure?’