Breaking News, Breaking Barriers: Ageing Boldly with Sam McAlister

For over a decade, her work has been driven by one unwavering principle: the pursuit of truth—especially when it is inconvenient. Sam McAlister, the former BBC investigative journalist behind one of the most explosive interviews in modern broadcasting history, has spent years ensuring that those in power are held to account.

Her determination, negotiation skills, and meticulous preparation culminated in the now-iconic Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew—an extraordinary piece of journalism that exposed the inner workings of Buckingham Palace.

McAlister’s story is brought to life in Scoop, the acclaimed Netflix film in which she is portrayed by Billie Piper. The film not only highlights the power of investigative journalism but also underscores the critical role of women in the field—challenging institutions, shaping public discourse, and seeking justice through fearless reporting.

On International Women’s Day, McAlister’s career stands as a powerful testament to the challenges and triumphs faced by women in journalism. From breaking barriers to amplifying voices too often silenced, her work embodies the courage and resilience that continue to reshape the media landscape.

In this interview, she reflects on the impact of Scoop, her career in journalism, and the ongoing fight for truth in an era of increasing scrutiny and misinformation.

Sam, following the release of Scoop on Netflix this April, the film has garnered significant attention and even secured a nomination for Best Single Drama at the 2025 Broadcast Awards. Could you share your reflections on the film’s reception and its impact on your career?

Having been part of Scoop has been an absolute whirlwind of joy. Obviously, being part of working on the film, being the exec working with Billy Piper and on her characterization, and with Gillian, Keely, Rufus, and the amazing director Philip Martin—seeing all of that actually come to screen was crazy and amazing enough. But then, to find yourself in LA because the film was nominated for an Emmy (which, sadly, we didn’t win), was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

So, this film has just been a whirlwind of pure joy and magical moments. And really, when you think about it, it’s just so wonderful to see Netflix supporting not only, of course, my story and me, but this important story of courageous journalism and women in journalism. It highlights the impact that journalism can, and still does, have on holding powerful people to account, speaking truth to power, and trying to find truth and justice the good old-fashioned journalistic way.

In addition to your work in film, you’ve been actively engaged in public speaking, delivering compelling presentations on negotiation, leadership, and women’s roles in the workplace. With International Women’s Day approaching, how do you plan to commemorate the occasion, and what significance does it hold for you personally?

I’m very fortunate that I now basically travel the world and the UK as a professional speaker, talking about my experiences as a journalist—obviously, specifically on this interview about Netflix—and, of course, my personal reflections on my career and what it means to be a woman in journalism and, indeed, in society.

So, International Women’s Day is always wonderful, to be honest, because it coalesces the minds of businesses on issues of representation, and it means that, as a professional speaker, it’s one of the busiest weeks of your year. It’s fantastic to have this period that concentrates people on thinking about having women speakers for their events. But, obviously, it’s wonderful to be a woman speaking about these important issues and showing why they matter all year long.

Women in journalism have long faced systemic barriers, from unequal pay to underrepresentation in leadership roles, and even safety concerns in the field. Based on your own experiences, what do you believe still needs to change to create a truly equitable landscape for female journalists, and what advice would you give to women striving to make their voices heard in the industry?

Obviously, there are a lot of very well publicised cases involving women in journalism who face specific injustices, whether it’s related to race, unequal treatment, or ageism. We see those cases sporadically, and, of course, they are completely unacceptable—it is sad that those kinds of things are still happening.

However, there has been a lot of advancement. In the period in which I was a journalist, at the time I arrived at BBC Newsnight, there was a male presenter and a male editor. But on the last team that I was on—because I left Newsnight three years ago—there was a woman editor and a woman main presenter: Esme Wren and Emily Maitlis, played respectively by Romola Garai and Gillian Anderson in Scoop.

So, there’s still a way to go, of course, but massive strides have been made. By sticking together, calling out bad behaviour, and celebrating good behaviour, I’m confident that we can continue to make important strides in making workplaces more positive for all women, regardless of their personal situation or age.

Midlife is often portrayed as a period of crisis or decline, yet many find it to be a time of reinvention and empowerment. How has your experience of midlife influenced your perspective on ageing and your professional journey?

I must be honest, it’s not really something I think about much because I’ve been lucky enough to just keep on trying, regardless of my age. Obviously, as you get older, you have more experience, more contacts, more networks—you have more blind faith in yourself.

For me, leaving the BBC to write a book—I think it was at the same age as E.L. James when she wrote ‘50 Shades of Grey’. I already knew she wrote that book when she was 47, I think, and I wrote my book at the same age. So, I continue to do things beyond my wildest dreams: the book, the documentary, the movie, the speaking. I now teach at LSE (The London School Of Economics And Political Science). The past three years have been the most extraordinary and accelerated period of my life, and that comes from confidence and experience. We might call it age, but I would call it those two things instead.

Women, particularly in media and public-facing roles, frequently encounter increased scrutiny as they age. Do you believe societal attitudes are evolving, or does ageism remain deeply entrenched?

I’m sure that, particularly for women in the public eye—I mean, I see it with Emily and the scrutiny on her physical self, her face, and her clothing—it must be very, very difficult. A huge part of the process of ageing in the public eye is dealing with the unfair scrutiny that comes with it. For me personally, I haven’t really experienced anything that I could call ageist or age-related in my professional career, so I couldn’t comment on it personally. But, of course, as a wider society, the idea that people are seen as unable to perform particular jobs or on-screen roles because of their age is deeply concerning.

We want to see icons like Kay Burley, for example, who recently stopped her job at Sky. She is in her 60s—although she doesn’t look a day over 35! Those are the kinds of icons and positive role models that really ensure society reflects all of women’s experiences, from youth through to older age. It’s important that we have all of those areas represented so that we get holistic approaches to women’s experiences and positive role models at all ages.

What changes do you think are necessary—in workplaces, media, or society at large—to challenge and overcome negative stereotypes associated with ageing?

As I said, I’ve been very fortunate to not experience any particular issues relating to the ageing process or being older. They’ve just brought me opportunities—quite the opposite of what we’re discussing here. So, how lucky I am, and I’m extremely grateful.

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