Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s Oprah interview ‘bought for £1M by ITV’ despite fears it will ‘detonate diplomatic bomb’
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry's explosive tell-all interview with Oprah was bought for £1million by ITV - despite fears it is a "diplomatic bomb", it was reported today.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to reveal some "pretty shocking things" in the sitdown chat with the US chatshow queen.
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The programme - Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A Primetime Special - will be aired on CBS in the US at 8pm EST - meaning it will be 1am in the UK at the time.
But the Daily Mail reported that it is ITV who won the bidding war to broadcast the explosive chat on tellys in the UK.
The interview will now be aired on ITV1 on 8pm on Monday with reports the broadcaster paid about £1m to beat out Sky.
Kevin Lygo, ITV Managing Director Media & Entertainment, said today: "This interview is already a national talking point and ITV is pleased to be able to offer UK audiences the opportunity to see it."
And one TV insider told The Mirror the interview could be a "diplomatic bomb" if it is aired as Prince Philip's health continues to be monitored.
They said: "CBS has sold millions of dollars worth of advertising around the interview, but bosses are aware of the delicacy of the Duke's health."
It comes as...
- The Oprah interview won't be cancelled even if Prince Philip's condition worsens, it was claimed
- The Royal Family have been united in prayer for the 99-year-old duke as he was transferred to a different hospital
- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex created a list of good deeds for people to hang on their fridges
- Oprah hinted Meghan faced an 'almost unsurvivable' struggle
The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, was yesterday transferred to St Bart's hospital for treatment of an infection and heart condition.
The Queen's husband has been in hospital for two weeks now after being admitted for feeling unwell.
And the TV insider suggested CBS will go ahead regardless after selling “millions of dollars” worth of advertising and have “no loyalty to the Royal Family”.
They said: “For it to run if Philip’s condition worsened would be like setting off a diplomatic bomb. It would be grossly insensitive and hugely disrespectful.”
"Who knows how matters linked to the Duke’s health will play out over the coming days.
"ITV have made the wrong decision and they would do well to await events before deciding when to screen it here."
And PR guru Mark Borkowski added: "The timing is just horrendous. This could be a real reputational mess for everybody involved. I think brands have to take a considered view about whether they want their advertising anywhere near this'"
Previews clips released this week have already hinted that "nothing will be off limits" in the interview with the Sussexes.
Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, were seen holding hands in the clips believe to have been filmed in Santa Barbara - but not the couple's house.
At one point, Harry told Oprah his concerns history would repeat itself, hinting at the tragic death of his mother Princess Diana.
He said: "You know for me, I'm just really relieved and happy to be sitting here, talking to you, with my wife by my side.
"Because I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for her, going through this process by herself. All those years ago.
"Because it's been unbelievably tough for the two of us, but at least we had each other."
In another clip, Oprah is heard asking Meghan: "Were you silent, or were you silenced?"
She then added: "I just want to make it clear to everybody there is no subject that is off limits.
"Almost unsurvivable, sounds like there was a breaking point."
The interview was also lengthened from the expected one and a half hours to two.
It's been reported the Queen was "blindsided" by Harry and Meghan's announcement of a "tell-all" interview with Oprah.
The royal couple apparently failed to inform the monarch of their plans before revealing they'll chat to the American chat show host.
And she only learned of it when US TV network CBS hurriedly issued a statement on Monday - after a producer working for Ms Winfrey mistakenly alerted ITV of the plans, reported.
News of the big interview emerged after the couple announced Meghan's third pregnancy - and days before Buckingham Palace confirmed the pair will never return as senior royals.
The couple moved to the US last year after Megxit, buying a home in California.
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They have since launched the Archewell Foundation, along with a podcast with Spotify and a production deal with Netflix.
The Sun Online has contacted ITV for comment.