Talk-show queens, Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters have become involved in a TV bidding war in order to secure an interview with the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, Pippa Middleton. Kate Middleton’s sought after sister is preparing to promote her first book and the Hollywood heavyweights are chomping at the bit to land her first US interview.
Talk show hosts Barbara Walters and Oprah Winfrey are involved in a $470,000 TV bidding war for Pippa Middleton’s first US interview.
The younger sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, who is about to start promoting her upcoming book about how to be the perfect hostess, is considered to be the pair’s “dream guest” for 2012, according to the Sunday Mirror.
TV executives are mercilessly working on securing a deal with publishers, Penguin, for Pippa’s first proper interview later this year. Winfrey, apparently told staff at her own network to “pull out all the stops” to secure the interview, sources told the newspaper.
Meanwhile, Walters reportedly is pressuring bosses at ABC to offer a six-figure sum for the interview, according to the paper. Even rival network NBC has lined up a slot on Ellen De Generes’ popular after-noon show.
Both Winfrey and Walters want to secure Middleton as a guest for an hour-long special. “The big guns see Pippa as the big-name interview of 2012,” a source said. “Oprah and Barbara Walters are hot on the case.”
Middleton, who will donate any fee she receives to charity, rose to fame after her show-stopping appearance at Britain’s royal wedding in April, when her sister, Catherine, married Prince William. Last year, the professional party planner signed a publishing deal to write a book on party etiquette.
