Channel 4 makes huge change to show after Andrew stripped of Prince title
Channel 4 has changed the title of their musical based on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after the royal had his titles taken away by King Charles earlier this week
Channel 4 has changed the title of their musical based on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after the disgraced royal had his titles formally removed. King Charles made the decision to formally strip his brother of his titles on Thursday after Andrew, 65, faced scrutiny from MPs and public revulsion following his links to paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, and the allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre.
Andrew has always denied the allegations against him. This week, it was announced that Prince Andrew would be stripped of his royal title and Channel 4, who premiered Prince Andrew: The Musical in 2022, have now taken the decision to follow suit. Prince Andrew: The Musical will now be known as Andrew: The Musical.
A new piece of promotional art work also sees a strikethrough on the word Prince, with the programme's lease having been extended on the broadcaster's streaming service. Channel 4 said: "Formal approval has been served to allow the lease to be extended, and to allow audiences to continue to watch this programme for a peppercorn rent. These censures are deemed necessary, in light of recent news and announcements from The Palace."
Andrew: The Musical is one in a long line of satirical works based on the royal family, and followed on from Channel4's sitcom The Windsors, which also had its own musical adaptation in the West End. The Channel 4 programme stars Kieran Hodgson in the title role and features a cast of comics and drag queens, and paints various key events in Andrew's life, including the infamous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, in a comedic light.
Upon its premiere, viewers were divided and took to social media to make their opinions heard. Taking to Twitter, viewers gave their verdict on the musical - which also starred Munya Chawawa as Prince Charles and fellow comic Jenny Bede as Sarah Ferguson, Andrew's ex-wife - with one writing: "I thought was brilliant TV.
"People forget he got away with it and all the royal family want is for it to go away. Well done #channel4 comedy satire is this. It hits where it hurts and gets results. Loved it. Beautifully done"
But another said: "I must be getting old. This is so dreadful, disrespectful, dire . I really thought it was poor in subject and conviction," and another raged: "Waste of time, money and airtime, utter rubbish . Best part was the profiterole I could just go one of those now." Another wrote: "The Prince Andrew musical on @Channel4 is ever-so faintly rubbish . Dreary songs, tabloidy. The idea is better than the execution. Over to Madonna night on BBC Two!"
A Buckingham Palace statement read: "His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.
"Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.
"Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse."
Andrew giving up his lavish home comes just weeks after he also gave up his Duke of York title ahead of the publication of a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre.
Since announcing he would be giving up his titles, Andrew was also exposed for lying about cutting off contact with late convicted paedophile Epstein. In his 2019 car crash interview on BBC Newsnight, he claimed he has ceased contact with Epstein in 2010 - but an email appeared to show they were still in contact a year later.
In the same interview, Andrew also said he had no recollection of meeting his accuser Ms Giuffre. In 2021, she filed a lawsuit against him, which Andrew settled out of court for a rumoured £12million, without admitting any wrongdoing. Ms Giuffre died by suicide in April this year.
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