Meghan Markle & Prince Harry latest: Bidding war sees ITV emerge as frontrunner to host bombshell Oprah interview
- Meghan & Harry seen for 1st time since losing titles
- Queen ‘decided long ago’ who'd get Harry's titles
A BIDDING war is said to have erupted among TV channels over which gets to host Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's bombshell interview - with ITV emerging as the frontrunner.
Meghan and Harry's sitdown interview with chatshow queen will air on CBS in the US on March 7.
And it has now sparked a bidding war between broadcasters over who will be able to air it in the UK.
today claimed Sky was out of the running, with the BBC not involved in the bidding war.
And it has been claimed ITV has emerged as the frontrunner for the interview.
It’s understood that ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group, which has the role of selling the interview to overseas broadcasters, wants the interview to be aired on a free-to-air channel.
This means that platforms like Amazon Prime and Netflix - who has already signed a £112m deal with the Sussexes - would be out of the running.
Follow our Harry and Meghan live blog below for the very latest news and gossip about the royal couple...
WHAT MEGHAN AND HARRY'S KID MAY LOOK LIKE
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have revealed they are expecting another baby, who will be a brother or sister to Archie.
But eager fans might not have to wait to see what the royal girl or boy will look like, thanks to rather striking generated mock-up photos.
'CLOSE TO TEARS' WITH TOM BRADBY
The couple have already previously spoken to ITV, with Meghan coming close to tears in an interview with journalist Tom Bradby
The interview, filmed during the couple's trip to South Africa, saw the duchess claim not many people had asked her if she was OK since she joined the Royal Family.
AMAZON PRIME AND NETFLIX OUT OF THE QUESTION
It’s understood that ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group, which has the role of selling the interview to overseas broadcasters, wants the interview to be aired on a free-to-air channel.
This means that platforms like Amazon Prime and Netflix - who has already signed a £112m deal with the Sussexes - would be out of the running.
It was further reported that the preference of Meghan, 39, and Harry, 36, will be taken into account.
BIDDING WAR
A bidding war has broken out between UK broadcasters to air the explosive Oprah interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly expected to be "very candid" in the 90-minute chat after last week announcing they had officially quit the Royal Family.
today claimed Sky was out of the running, with the BBC not involved in the bidding war.
And it has been claimed ITV has emerged as the frontrunner for the interview.
'SHINE A LIGHT'
Oprah was photographed climbing into her £50million private jet last Friday after filming the interview in California.
Harry and Meghan were stripped of their royal patronages and military titles after the Queen refused their request for a hybrid role.
A source claims: “There is a lot of tension between them and the Royal Family.
“The interview is going to shine a light on what they have been through. Meghan and Harry are relieved they are away from it all.”
'SPEAK THEIR TRUTH'
US chat show veteran Oprah, 67, sat down with the Sussexes last week — shortly before The Queen confirmed they had quit royal life.
Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, pledged they will be “speaking their truth” during the interview, which will be shown in the US on CBS at 8pm Eastern Time on March 7.
That is the early hours in the UK, but ITV is believed to be the sole candidate for the rights to air it the following evening.
'INTIMATE' CHAT ON PRIMETIME TV
PRINCE Harry and Meghan’s interview with chat queen Oprah Winfrey is set to be broadcast at primetime in the UK — with ITV clear favourites to screen it.
Rivals BBC did not bid and Sky pulled out of the running for the rights to the couple’s “intimate” 90-minute chat.
Sources claim they will reveal the “tension” within the Royal Family.
QUEEN 'DECIDED LONG AGO WHO TO GIVE HARRY AND MEGHAN'S TITLES TO'
The Queen reportedly decided long ago which royals will take on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's patronages - even before they officially quit.
The monarch will make the announcement to the Royal Family in the next few weeks, the reported.
The Queen reportedly made the decision before the announcement that Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, would not return to the Royal Family.
A royal source said: “When the writing was on the wall and it was clear the Duke and Duchess had no intention of coming back into the fold and being part of the team, the Queen made her mind up long ago over her preferred candidates for the roles they vacated.”
MEGHAN AND HARRY'S OPREAH INTERVIEW LIKELY TO AIR ON ITV
Harry and Meghan’s interview with chat queen Oprah Winfrey is set to be broadcast at primetime in the UK — with ITV clear favourites to screen it.
Rivals BBC did not bid and Sky pulled out of the running for the rights to the couple’s “intimate” 90-minute chat.
Sources claim they will reveal the “tension” within the Royal Family.
US chat show veteran Oprah, 67, sat down with the Sussexes last week — shortly before The Queen confirmed they had quit royal life.
Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, pledged they will be “speaking their truth” during the interview, which will be shown on CBS in the US late on March 7.
QUEEN'S COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS TO AIR ON MARCH 7
And her address is expected to air on BBC One just hours before Meghan and Harry's tell-all with the queen of American chat shows is aired in the US.
The 94-year-old monarch will address the nation to mark Commonwealth Day on March 7, 2021, as the church service has been cancelled due to Covid-19.
On March 9, 2020, the Queen was joined by members of the Royal Family, including Harry and Meghan, for a public appearance.
The Sussexes left for North America shortly afterwards.
THIS IS WHAT HARRY & MEGHAN’S SON WILL LOOK LIKE – ACCORDING TO AN APP
While the couple already share Archie, speculation is rife over what their second child will look like if he's a boy.
The Make Me Babies website lets you upload pictures of two parents and it claims to “accurately” predict how they will look when they are born.
The boy looks like a mini-me of Harry, with bright red hair and a cheeky smile.
It appears Archie, who turns two in May, has actually inherited Harry’s trademark ginger locks, so will the new baby follow suit?
THIS IS WHAT HARRY & MEGHAN'S DAUGHTER WILL LOOK LIKE - ACCORDING TO AN APP
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have revealed they are expecting another baby, who will be a brother or sister to Archie.
But eager fans might not have to wait to see what the royal girl or boy will look like, thanks to rather striking generated mock-up photos.
The Make Me Babies website lets you upload pictures of two parents and it claims to “accurately” predict how they will look when they are born.
Firstly the generator produced a baby girl which has Meghan’s beautiful brunette locks and dark eyes.
BBC AND NETFLIX OUT OF THE RUNNING TO SCREEN OPRAH INTERVIEW
A bidding war has broken out between UK broadcasters to air the explosive Oprah interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly expected to be "very candid" in the 90-minute chat after last week announcing they had officially quit the Royal Family.
Their sitdown interview with chatshow queen will air on CBS in the US on March 7.
And it has now sparked a bidding war between broadcasters over who will be able to air it in the UK.
today claimed Sky was out of the running, with the BBC not involved in the bidding war.
And it has been claimed ITV has emerged as the frontrunner for the interview.
SPOTIFY DEFENDS MEGHAN & HARRY'S £18M PODCAST DEAL
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex last year launched Archewell Audio, saying they wanted to build a community "through shared experiences, powerful narratives and universal values".
The deal came under fire at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing - with Spotify believed to pay musicians between £0.002 and £0.0038 per stream.
Appearing before MPs, Horacio Gutierrez, head of global affairs and chief legal officer for Spotify, said it was hoped the high profile couple would attract people to the service.
And when asked if the couple were considered "box office" he replied: "Yes. In terms of the talent that goes into podcasts, yes."
MEGHAN AND HARRY'S OPRAH INTERVIEW TO 'SHINE A LIGHT ON TENSIONS'
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will "shine a light" on the tensions with the Royal Family in their sit down interview with Oprah, it was claimed today.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly expected to be "very candid" in the 90-minute chat after last week announcing they had officially quit the Royal Family.
The news came after months of speculation of a rift between Harry, 36, and William, 39, with the couple announcing the 12-month Megxit review had been finalised with the jibe that "service is universal".
A source close to the duke and duchess : "There is a lot of tension between them and the Royal Family.
"The interview is going to shine a light on what they have been through. Meghan and Harry are relieved they are away from it all."
QUEEN 'OVER THE MOON' FOR PREGNANCY NEWS BUT 'SAD' SHE WON'T SEE MUCH OF HER GREAT-GRANDCHILD
The Queen is "over the moon" Meghan Markle is pregnant but will be sad she won't see much of her great-grandchild, a royal expert says.
Meghan and Prince Harry announced on Valentine's Day they are expecting their second child.
The Queen, 94, said at the time she was "delighted" at the imminent arrival, which will be her tenth great-grandchild.
But a royal biographer says the announcement will be "tinged with sadness" as the family will be living thousands of miles away in LA.
It is understood the Queen and Prince Philip haven't seen the couple's first child Archie in over a year.
MEGHAN MARKLE CHANNELS KIM K WITH 'CLIP IN EXTENSIONS'
Meghan Markle has had a glam “Hollywood makeover” and channelled Kim Kardashian with “clip-on hair extensions”, stylist claims.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, along with husband Prince Harry, 36, made their first appearance since quitting the royal family last week.
The 20-second clip, which plugged their Archewell Audio podcast at a Spotify live stream event, was filmed at their £11milliomn Santa Barbara mansion.
Meghan looked very stylish with her hair worn down in waist-length locks, donning a £2,478 Oscar de la Renta gown.
ALL THE PATRONAGES HARRY AND MEGHAN KEPT - AND LOST
BIDDING WAR FOR HARRY AND MEGHAN'S INTERVIEW
A bidding war has broken out between UK broadcasters to air the explosive Oprah interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with ITV being the ‘front-runner’ as ‘BBC & Netflix OUT’.
Their sitdown interview with chatshow queen will air on CBS in the US on March 7.
Variety today claimed Sky was out of the running, with the BBC not involved in the bidding war. and ITV being the frontrunner.
It’s understood that ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group, which has the role of selling the interview to overseas broadcasters, wants the interview to be aired on a free-to-air channel.
This means that platforms like Amazon Prime and Netflix would be out of the running.
SNEAK PEEK INSIDE CAMILLA'S MORNING ROOM
The Duchess of Cornwall, gave fans a sneak peek inside her very luxurious Morning Room at Clarence House.
Camilla and Prince Charles made several virtual calls from the stunning room this month, which is decorated with treasured paintings, family photos and ornaments.
Camilla was pictured at a grand desk as she spoke to SafeLives, a charity working to cut domestic abuse.
The room includes Queen Mother's personal arrangement of Royal Anchor Chelsea porcelain.
70 YEARS ON THE THRONE
The Queen will celebrate 70 years on the British throne in 2022 - the first time any British monarch has reached the historic milestone.
Princess Elizabeth became Queen on February 6, 1952 - the day her father King George VI died.
In November 2020, Oliver Dowden announced "a four-day Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate The Queen’s 70 year reign".
An extensive programme of public events is being planned across the country, including people being invited to plant a tree for the Platinum Jubilee.
The campaign, known as The Queen’s Green Canopy, will launch in May 2021.
PRINCE WILLIAM STILL HOPES TO REPAIR HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HARRY
A source told Meghan and Harry's step-down could help rebuild the brothers' relationship which has broken down in recent years.
“Over the last few months there have been more and more discussions, normal check-ins, that sort of stuff," the source said.
“Both of them seem to have been making an effort for some time.”
"TIME TO HIDE BEHIND THE SOFA AT THE PALACE"
Speaking about Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah, the royal source said: "Time to hide behind the sofa at the palace.
"Oprah is skilled at getting people to talk about their feelings and bound to take them down a path they’ll almost certainly regret.
"There will be an element of reliving Megxit and airing their grievances.
"No one benefits from that, but Oprah will get it out of them whether they like it or not."
MEGHAN AND HARRY'S INTERVIEW WITH OPRAH
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will "shine a light" on the tensions with the Royal Family in their sitdown interview with Oprah.
They are reportedly expected to be "very candid" in the 90-minute chat after last week's news announcement they had quit the Royal family.
A source close to the duke and duchess told E!: "There is a lot of tension between them and the Royal Family.
"The interview is going to shine a light on what they have been through. Meghan and Harry are relieved they are away from it all."
The dutchess will be the star of Oprah chat, revealing her experience of "stepping into life as a royal, marriage, motherhood, philanthropic work" as well as "how she is handling life under intense public pressure".
THAT'S WHAT THE ROYAL BABY MIGHT LOOK LIKE
Eager fans don't need to wait to see what the royal girl or boy will look like, thanks to rather striking generated mock-up photos.
The Make Me Babies website lets you upload pictures of two parents and it claims to “accurately” predict how they will look when they are born.
The generator produced a baby girl which has Meghan’s beautiful brunette locks and dark eyes and a boy who looks like a mini-me of Harry, with bright red hair and a cheeky smile.
