Channel 4 to mark 40th birthday with satirical Prince Andrew musical

Prince Andrew's life is to be satirised in a musical by Channel 4.

Two Doors Down star Kieran Hodgson will play shamed member of the Royal Family, the Duke of York, in the 60-minute comedy commissioned by the broadcaster to mark its 40th anniversary.

The feature-length musical will include the duke's 'car crash' Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019, during which he denied his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal.

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Ian Katz, chief content officer for C4 said: "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."

Prince Andrew has been accused of child sex abuse and of sex trafficking with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. He categorically denies all accusations.

He later resigned from his public roles and returned his honorary military affiliations and charity patronages to the Queen.

The duke was sued in the US by Virginia Giuffre over an alleged sexual assault. He denied all accusations and later settled the suit out of court.

Watch: Prince Andrew's interview on BBC's Newsnight in 2019

The prince denied he slept with Giuffre on three separate occasions, twice while she was underage, during his BBC interview with Maitlis.

He said the alleged encounter in 2001 did not happen as he spent the day with his daughter, Princess Beatrice, taking her to Pizza Express in Woking for a party.

During the interview, the duke twice stated his relationship with Epstein had some “seriously beneficial outcomes”, allowing him to meet people and prepare for a future role as a trade envoy.

Giuffre said the same alleged sexual liaison began with the duke sweating heavily as they danced at London nightclub Tramp.

But the duke said he had a medical condition at the time which meant he did not sweat.

He said he had no recollection of meeting Giuffre.

The C4 musical - which will explore “key events, relationships, and controversies of Andrew’s life” - will feature original music by Freddie Tapner, whose credits include Nick Mohammed’s Mr Swallow shows about Dracula and Houdini.

It is produced by Hat Trick, makers of satirical current affairs quiz show Have I Got News For You.

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Other shows announced by Channel 4 as part of its 40th birthday celebrations include a film abut the Monarchy fronted by Frankie Boyle, a revival of Friday Night Live and a show about ‘cancel culture' presented by Jimmy Carr.