Australian broadcaster ABC’s flagship current affairs show “4 Corners” is keen to set the record straight regarding a season 4 episode of “The Crown”.
A scene in episode six, titled “Terra Nullius”, sees the country’s former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, played by Richard Roxburgh, discuss welcoming Prince Charles and Princess Diana back in 1983.
According to Deadline, “The Crown” writer Peter Morgan quoted Hawke as saying: “An unelected non-Australian who lives on the other side of the world and, for all their good intentions, is a different breed. You wouldn’t put a pig in charge of a herd of prime beef cattle, even if it did look good in a twinset and pearls.”
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However, “4 Corners” have insisted he never said the above, and pointed out the interview actually took place on February 12, not February 26. They also said it happened in Melbourne, not in Canberra.
(2/4) Firstly, the 1983 Bob Hawke interview you recreated in season 4 was in fact from Feb 12, not Feb 26. We went back and found a TV guide just to check our archivists are as sharp as we thought, and they’re spot on (see attached. Thnx @canberratimes and @TroveAustralia). pic.twitter.com/M4DqVcvKrJ
— 4corners (@4corners) November 25, 2020
(3/4) Secondly, the Hawke interview was in Melbourne, not in our Canberra studios as you say in the show (although we’re impressed with your knowledge of our nation’s capital).
— 4corners (@4corners) November 25, 2020
(4/4) And while we’ve enjoyed your creative license, Hawke did not call the Queen a pig on our show and say, "You wouldn't put a pig in charge of a herd of prime beef cattle, even if it does look good in twin set and pearls." Here's what he really said. Thnx again @netflix! pic.twitter.com/0JY8sEOB5C
— 4corners (@4corners) November 25, 2020
“The Crown” bosses did get Hawke’s comments about Charles being a “nice young bloke” correct, though.
A rep for “The Crown” declined to comment when approached by ET Canada.
The comments come after Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, urged viewers to remember that “The Crown” is fiction and not necessarily correct.
Sarah Horsley, wife of the late Major Hugh Lindsay, also spoke out against the Netflix show for its depiction of her husband’s death in the fourth season.
