Prince Harry's new autobiography has become the UK's fastest-selling non-fiction book ever, just a day after its release.
After what appears to have been a rather controversial last few days in the wake of the airing of several high-profile interviews with the Duke of Sussex to promote first-ever memoir - which is titled 'Spare', and was released on yesterday (10 January) - according to recording figures, 400,000 copies of the book have been sold so far, The Manc reports.
This is the total number of copies across hardback, ebook, and audio formats on its first day of publication.
Publishers say the success of the book has already 'exceeded' expectations.
"We always knew this book would fly but it is exceeding even our most bullish expectations," admitted Larry Finlay, Managing Director of Transworld Penguin Random House.
"As far as we know, the only books to have sold more in their first day are those starring the other Harry (Potter)."
Prince Harry's memoir Spare becomes UK's fastest-selling non-fiction book ever / Credit: Barnes & Noble | WHSmith
If you have been keeping an eye on the news recently, then you'll probably know that Prince Harry has used the 550-plus pages of Spare to make a series of revelations and headline-dominating claims about the Royal Family - which come after he and his wife Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals in early 2019.
Some of these shocking claims include Price Harry accusing Prince William of physically attacking him and teasing him about his panic attacks, saying King Charles put his own interests above Harry's, and branding Camilla as the "villain" and "dangerous".
The book is also said to be unexpectedly packed with some of Prince Harry's celebrity anecdotes.
The release of Spare comes after millions tuned it to watch as ITV aired a high-profile televised interview with the Duke of Sussex, Harry: The Interview, last Sunday evening.
During the in-depth interview, Prince Harry speaks on everything from his experiences growing up, the death of his mother Princess Diana, and his personal relationships, to how he believes “silence is betrayal” in reference to the alleged failure of Buckingham Palace to defend him and his wife before they stepped down as senior royals and moved to the US.
He also claimed in the interview that, since the moment that moved away, his family have “shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile”.
Prince Harry during an in-depth televised interview with ITV to promote 'Spare' / Credit: ITV
Adding that he feels it “never needed to be this way”, Harry told ITV's Tom Bradby that he believes his family “feel as though it is better to keep us somehow as the villains”.
"I want a family, not an institution," he said in the interview.
Spare by Prince Harry is currently on sale at several book retailers and chains across the UK, and despite having a retail price of £28, many shops - including high street favourites Waterstones and WHSmith - are selling it at half price.
You can also grab at copy of the book for just £14 on Amazon too.
Featured Image - Waterstones
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Bus operator partners with Leeds hospitals to help mums-to-be make vital appointments
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Channel 4 is looking for adult virgins with ‘intimacy issues’ for next series of hit reality show
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before.
First hitting screens back in 2024 and having run for two successful seasons now, Virgin Island follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.
You can find out more and register your interest here.
Emily Sergeant -
11th January 2023 
