Emily Maitlis: How Andrew Tate tied himself in knots during fiery BBC interview

In today’s social media age, the journalist is as much on trial as the man defending himself on rape charges – which is why these encounters are so fraught, writes Emily Maitlis

She made him do all the work, all the running, all the panicking, without apparently lifting an eyebrow (PA Media)

I have no idea about the process that led to the BBC approaching Andrew Tate for an interview. Or the reason that Tate eventually agreed to do it – he says he relented after “months of begging”.

But I do have some idea of how the interviewer, Lucy Williamson, might have felt on hearing it was game on. The intense elation (“A world exclusive with a renowned d***head!”) quickly followed by the utter panic (“Am I up to this? What tricks is he going to play? Will I end up strengthening the hand of a known misogynist currently under house arrest on human trafficking charges if it goes wrong?”).

I viewed the interview as soon as it landed, unedited, on Tate’s own platform. I thought I would be watching through fingers, from behind the sofa. But I was wrong. If Williamson had any of those fears, they were unfounded.