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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Ilkley crowned the best place to live in the north by The Sunday Times
The beautiful spa town of Ilkley has been crowned the best place to live in the north of England by The Sunday Times.
The results are in, and our very own Ilkley has taken the top spot for the north and north-east category.
The list posted but the Sunday Times every year, features 72 locations across the UK that they deem are the best spots to settle down in.
Judges visited each location to take in the atmosphere, explore the history and chat to the locals to find out what made each place so special.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's not the first time the wonderful spa town of Ilkley has been praised, having been the national winner back in 2022 it's no stranger to taking home the trophy.
The judging panel said about Ilkley: “It’s not just the fresh air, fantastic scenery, excellent schools and direct trains to Leeds that make Ilkley this year’s pick of the north and northeast. It’s the get-up and go of a community that tackles every challenge with gusto.”
"It's hard to imagine anywhere with more opportunities for youngsters."
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Also getting a mention in the regional category was Horsforth, which was recommended for its transport links, brilliant local schools and thriving social scene.
The guide said: "The city is Yorkshire's economic powerhouse - but for something a bit greener, a bit more family friendly, it's hard to better Horsforth's streets of sandstone houses."
Elsewhere up north, Sheffield got a special shoutout where the judges said: "Burgeoning creative industries and judicious regeneration are igniting interest in previously overlooked postcodes ... Hipsters and happy families alike are celebrating, welcoming, embracing, loving this city-wide vibe."
So if you fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of the city centre, then why not hop on a train and visit the best place to live up north and see for yourselves what the fuss is all about.
Adolescence tops Netflix charts with more than 24 million views in four days
Emily Sergeant
New British series Adolescence has shot right to the top of Netflix’s most-watched TV charts after more than 24 million people tune in.
Hitting the streaming platform just last Thursday, Adolescence is a four-part limited series about a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murdering one of his classmates, with each episode remarkably being filmed in one unflinching and continuous shot.
This truly gripping story unfolds in real time as the main characters search for answers in the wake of a shocking tragedy.
Who is actually responsible? Why did it happen? And could it have been prevented?
Image: Netflix
Co-created and written by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, with Graham starring alongside an ensemble cast of accomplished actors such as Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty, as well as screen newcomer Owen Cooper as the young boy Eddie Miller, accused of murder, the show tells the story of how a family’s world is turned upside.
“We could have made a drama about gangs and knife crime, or about a kid whose mother is an alcoholic or whose father is a violent abuser,” Stephen Graham said ahead of the show‘s release.
Image: Netflix
“Instead, we wanted you to look at this family and think, ‘My God, this could be happening to us.’ And what’s happening here is an ordinary family’s worst nightmare.”
Over the course of the four intense one-shot episodes, the show shines a uncomfortable spotlight on and examines key themes such as male rage, the dangers of social media, cyberbullying, incel culture, and more.
The latest viewing figures show that Adolescence undoubtedly has been a runaway hit, with a whopping 24.3 million views amassed in its first four days of availability, making it the streaming platform’s top show for the week of 10-16 March.
Image: Netflix
As the show continues to garner universal acclaim, standing at 98% on notable critic website Rotten Tomatoes, those viewing figures are set to clock up thick and fast as the days go on.
While Adolescence and Jamie’s story isn’t based on a real person or event specifically, Graham, Thorne, and director Philip Barantini have confirmed that the idea for the series did spring from reports that co-creator Graham had heard about on the news of young boys being involved in knife crimes – particularly the shocking 2021 murder of Ava White in Liverpool.
Much of Adolescence was filmed in Pontefract in West Yorkshire, with the casting of Cooper in the role of Jamie ultimately influencing where the show was shot.
“We knew it was going to be set somewhere in the North of England, and we also knew it would be from somewhere around wherever our Jamie was from – in this case near Warrington – because it would have been unfair to make him do an accent,” explained director Philip Barantini.
All four episodes of Adolescence are now available to stream on Netflix.
Emily Sergeant -
11th January 2023 
