How many people watched Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah Winfrey? What did the couple talk about? How much did they get paid? What channel was it on? What did readers of The News think about it? Your questions answered

The two-hour special, named Oprah with Meghan and Harry, first aired on CBS in the United States on Sunday and sparked massive discussion online.

As British audiences got to watch it from 9pm on Monday, the debate continued – and has since dominated social media and many of today’s national newspaper front pages.

The interview saw the couple speak out on how life together has changed since their courtship, with probing questions on racism, the deterioration of Meghan’s mental health and Harry’s fears of ‘history repeating itself’, alluding to his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Meghan stated at the interview’s outset that the couple was not being paid to take part in it.

This morning we took to Facebook to ask readers of The News what they thought of the interview, which was watched by more than a fifth of the UK’s population – 12.4m – at its peak.

It earned ITV the second-highest audience ratings of the year so far, only beaten by Boris Johnson’s lockdown announcement on January 4, which was watched by 15.6m viewers.

What did readers of The News think of the interview?

At 6.30am today, we posted to Facebook to ask them this very question.

Here’s a selection of comments our readers made in response.

:: Gemma Paintin: ‘I wasn't surprised [to be honest]. There have been complaints about The Firm before. I like The Queen but have always thought it was a toxic environment. Having someone tell you what to say, when to say it, what to do, when to do it, having things like passports taken away. If that was anyone in a relationship we would be telling them it isn't healthy and to get out.’

:: Steve Randell: ‘I'm probably going to get a load of abuse but she came across so false. I don't believe half of it.’

:: Claire Abraham: ‘I believe what she said about security, because I remember Charles had to fight for security at the beginning for Diana.’

:: Suzy Hardie: ‘She had done zero research on the family and its way of life. She gave up everything – that’s what you do if you marry into it. She could not see a doctor to get support. You cannot have your cake and expect [not] to eat it too. Harry is a lost man bless him.’

:: John Flynn: ‘How come Oprah was a guest at [Harry and Meghan’s] wedding, despite them hardly knowing each other? Planning?’

:: Stephen Robinson: ‘Drama queen performance but still not worthy of an Oscar.’

:: Kirsty Anne: ‘It was two human beings sharing their heartbreaking story. The fact that Meghan was open and honest about the deterioration of her mental health was brave, yet people like Piers Morgan keep pushing and pushing her. Yesterday the amount of white, privileged middle-class people giving their opinion about what is racist and what is not was cringeworthy.’

:: Helen Fox-Noble: ‘For a couple that wanted to opt out of the limelight to live some sort of normal life, I think airing the tale has done the opposite and will only cause a bigger rift with Harry's family.’

:: Stu Ford: ‘Hopefully it will signal the beginning of the end of the British monarchy.’

:: Margaret Harrowsmith: ‘As they say "made your bed now lie in it". There seemed to be a lot of conflicting information changed from one sentence to the next – “didn't make Kate cry, did make Kate cry”. If they were so worried about security while living overseas – their choice – surely they have sufficient money without the British public being made to be responsible. I am concerned about the taint of racism though, and surely as the son of a prince [Archie] should have the choice of a title, although Princess Anne's grandchildren haven't got titles. Finally, it seems to me that Prince Edward doesn't appear to do very much, or am I wrong?’

:: Brizz Miles-Knight: ‘Very heartfelt and honest interview, not what I expected after the media hype. Which I admit had me chomping at the bit. My undying love and admiration goes out to Harry and Meghan and all the royal family. #bekind.’

:: Chanda Hall: ‘No worse or better than the one Diana did, or Prince Andrew or Charles. They're not the first and I doubt they'll be the last to do an interview.’

:: Mandy Eburne: ‘Feel sorry for them, now I know why they left.’

You can have your say on the interview on our Facebook page, here.

It’s understood Buckingham Palace is yet to publish a statement in response to the interview.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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