Deeply dippy way to enjoy sunshine
SPRING came early yesterday and for the lockdown-weary, the call of the sea was too great to ignore.
The mercury rocketed to an unseasonal 59F (14.9C) in some parts and brave swimmers decided to cool off in the still chilly waters of Southend-on-sea, Essex.
For others, like Olivia Hadlington, eight, and her sister Harlow, three, of Halesowen, West Midlands, a morning among the flowers in park was blooming lovely.
THE DUKE and Duchess of Sussex’s Oprah Winfrey interview won’t “be as big” as Princess Diana’s Panorama interview or Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interrogation but “many millions” will be made by TV companies on both sides of the Atlantic, says broadcaster Andrew Neil.
Their interview on US network giant CBS with the Hollywood chat show queen will be shown next Sunday but it will not have as much impact as Diana’s sensational sit-down with Martin Bashir in 1995, or his uncle Andrew’s grilling by Emily Maitlis in 2019, said Mr Neil.
His comments come as a royal author urged Harry to rebuild bridges with his family in Britain… before it is too late.
Margaret Holder, writing for today’s Sunday Express, believes Harry should be as focused on his ailing grandfather, Prince Philip, who turns 100 in June, as the rest of his relatives.
Meanwhile, a biographer planning a book on the Duchess of Sussex has labelled Harry’s appearance on James Corden’s The Late Late Show “desperate” and “unfortunate”.
Best-selling writer Tom Bower said: “My feeling is that it is pretty desperate. Harry is now pushing himself into extremes.”
The segment on the US series, which also broadcasts on CBS, saw Harry ride on an open-top tour bus in Los Angeles and take part in an assault course alongside Corden, as well as rapping.
Asked to put the Oprah chat in perspective to the other big royal sit-downs, former top BBC political interviewer Mr Neil said: “Not nearly as big as the Diana interview, which was historic and made global news.
“Depending on what they say, maybe not as big as Andrew either, which was not intended to be big but became so when he opened his mouth. The interview is 90 minutes of CBS primetime with Oprah, so worth many millions in ad revenues. Plus millions more in global sales – unlike the Diana interview, the interviewer is as famous as the interviewees.”
Soon to launch his own channel, GB News, Mr Neil believes the Sussexes may still make money from the venture, despite reports they are not taking a fee.
He said: “Mr and Mrs Sussex must surely have cut themselves a stake in the overall deal.”
Bosses at
CBS believe next Sunday’s primetime special will attract a “Super Bowl-sized audience” with massive syndication deals in other countries.
The British TV channel which broadcasts the interview will command a high price for adverts and up to £500,000 per ad break, said Gideon Spanier, from advertising and marketing industry magazine Campaign.
ITV continues to be the frontrunner to win the broadcasting rights over Sky News, and Mr Spanier said: “On a mass-market channel such
as
ITV, if it could get a large audience of over 10 million, a 30-second spot might command £100,000. On a subscription or cable channel with a smaller audience, a similar ad spot would be £20,000 or less.”
Margaret Holder meanwhile warns that Harry “grows further from his heritage” with the looming prospect of next weekend’s TV interview with Oprah, left.
“Possible breaches of protocol could raise huge problems when they should all be focused on Philip’s recovery,” she says.
She points to Charles’s visit to his father’s bedside last week, adding: “It took Charles 72 years to see his father in a new light. Let’s hope Harry reaches a similar epiphany a lot sooner.”
The “tell-all” interview will air in the US on the same day the
Queen and other members of the Royal Family are due to appear in their own TV special honouring Commonwealth Day on the BBC.
CBS chiefs are keeping the contents of Oprah’s show a secret, with one senior production executive confirming: “They are building this up as a ratings blockbuster.
“Super Bowl-sized figures of 30, 40 and even 50 million are being
bandied around in advance and there is no doubt the audience is going to be massive.”
Ms Winfrey’s friend, journalist Gayle King, one of only a handful of people believed to have seen the final edit, said: “Nothing is offlimits. Nothing at all.”
A senior ITV source told the Sunday Express that he “wouldn’t guide anyone away from the idea” that the commercial broadcaster is still in the battle. High-level negotiations are also continuing at Sky News, although senior executives wouldn’t comment directly.
Channel 5, although owned by Viacom, which also has control of CBS, didn’t bid for the exclusive rights, while Channel 4 is not believed to be part of the bidding war either.
The BBC, meanwhile, has stepped away from it, having rights to the Queen’s Commonwealth Day message that will run next Sunday.
The interview will be shown in the US at 1am British time, and any UK transmission is likely to be scheduled for the following Monday evening.
PR expert Mark Borkowski said that the story is all about Oprah and how she handles the interview with the Duke and Duchess of
Sussex. “Oprah is very clever and there’s a lot riding on this for her,” said Mr Borkowski.
“She’s not going to give them a soft ride, otherwise it will put her integrity into question.
“It’s a big win for Oprah, and this is about a broadcaster getting a scalp.”
But he said the Sussexes, who have stepped away from their royal roles to pursue a new life in
California, “are on a full-tilt publicity drive to build their brand”.
He added: “They’re building a foundation in America and Harry has already signalled this in being positive about The Crown with a nod to his Netflix paymasters, while causing consternation back in the Palace, who hate the portrayal of the Royal Family by writer Peter Morgan.”
BANKS would be legally required to offer key services through post offices under proposals which will be unveiled this week.
Tory heavyweights are backing the measures to ensure access to cash does not vanish from town centres.
Alarmed by the mass closure of bank branches on the high street, North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker sees a key role for the Post Office in providing vital over-the-counter services.
He will present his proposals to Parliament on Tuesday. Supporters include former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, former work and pensions secretary Esther Mcvey and former security minister Sir John Hayes. Mr Baker points to research which found that more than eight million adults would struggle to cope in a cashless society.
Currently, major banks allow customers to access services in post offices via a framework agreement but Mr Baker argues that this is fragile. He explained: “My Bill aims to make it mandatory for high street banks to offer basic
CRUCIAL: MP Duncan Baker
wants post office boost services through the 11,500-strong Post Office branch network.
“Since 1988, 14,000 bank branches have shut. There should be legislation that forces banks to always offer high street services.
“This will provide better security to the elderly, vulnerable, small businesses and communities who see banking services disappear off the high street every year.”
The basic services are likely to include access to cash, withdrawals and deposits.
Mr Baker fears the pandemic and boom in online shopping will encourage even more branch closures.
He said: “It would only take a couple of the big banks to say, ‘We’ve pushed so many people online there’s no need to have any high street presence whatsoever’.”
The MP says his proposals could also fuel an expansion of the Post Office network. “We know people love post offices,” he said. “They’ve risen to the fore in the pandemic.”
Calum Greenhow, chief executive of the National Federation of Subpostmasters, said: “The Government needs to support the drive for a stronger alliance between banks and post offices.
“This will ensure we can look after the most vulnerable, who require access to services that only post offices can provide once a bank has left the area.”