The ITV journalist, who was handpicked by Prince Harry to interview him about his new book Spare, used the furor over the leaked memoir to publish his own novel – ahead of the full interview, which will air on ITV tomorrow night.
Tom Bradby, 55, presenter of News at Ten on ITV, has had a relationship of deep trust with Harry and Meghan since his bombshell interview with the Duchess when she revealed she wasn’t ‘ok’ and adjusting to royal life Markle set up has been difficult.
After news of the contents of the memoir leaked to the Guardian and Spanish copies went on sale days early, Mr Bradby released a series of tweets about Harry.
But instead of addressing the memoir or its contents, the journalist actually pocketed his own spy novel starring unkempt secret agent Harry Tower.
Prince Harry sat down to discuss his memoir Spare with ITV journalist Tom Bradby in a program to be aired on Sunday
On the day Spare was leaked, amid the excitement, Mr Bradby released tweets promoting his own novel
Prince William previously had a close relationship with the news anchor, but that relationship soured after the journalist accompanied the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on a tour of South Africa in 2019.
At this point, he spoke frankly with an obviously struggling Meghan about her mental health, a conversation in which she was visibly emotional.
On Friday, Mr Bradby wrote: “Today’s big news; Today is the release date of the critically acclaimed Yesterday’s Spy!’
He continued, “A heartfelt thank you to all the hardcover readers who have previously written such great reviews.
‘And so do the newspaper critics. And here’s the hurt, regretful Harry Tower, a spy whose prime is behind him.
“A man desperate for his son – and for salvation.”
He posted the comments to his Twitter followers along with photos and a promotional video.
The move came as the very memoir he had chosen of Prince Harry to discuss in detail was leaked after early sales in Spanish bookstores.
Mr Bradby used to be very close with Prince William but this ended after he accompanied Harry and Meghan on a tour of South Africa
Tom Bradby (right) with his wife Claudia Bradby (left) at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in 2018
The Duke of Sussex had previously sat down with Mr Bradby to discuss his claims in the memoir, which will be aired in a program on ITV on Sunday night.
In a teaser ahead of the release, Prince Harry told the journalist: “It never had to be this way.
“They have shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile.
I want my father back, I want my brother back.’
In the interview, Harry is expected to defend his claims in the book, which has been heavily criticized by royal commentators.
In Spare, Prince Harry discusses intimate details of his private life as well as life within the royal family.
Some of the most controversial claims revealed so far include an alleged physical altercation in which William threw his brother to the ground, insults the Prince of Wales allegedly hurled at Meghan, and both Harry and his brother begging their father have King Charles not to marry Camilla.
Bradby was born in Malta to a British naval officer. An only child, he was sent to Westbourne House School in West Sussex and then to Sherborne School in Dorset at the age of eight.
He then studied history at the University of Edinburgh, where he became involved in student journalism and edited the newspaper.
Bradby interned at several local newspapers while at university, but eventually accepted a place on the ITN apprenticeship program and has stayed with the company ever since.
In 1994 he married Claudia Hill-Norton, whose father was Vice-Admiral Sir Nicholas Hill-Norton and her grandfather was Fleet Admiral Lord Hill-Norton.
The pair were introduced by Claudia’s older brother Simon, who later founded Sweaty Betty sportswear company with his wife, which they sold to a US company for £300million last year.
Bradby moved to Hong Kong in 1998 as ITV’s Asia correspondent and it was there that Claudia found her calling as a jewelery designer.
In 1999, while reporting on an uprising in Indonesia, he was hit by a torch in the right leg and seriously injured.
By this time he was a father of three and realized he didn’t want to be an overseas resident.
He therefore accepted the position of royal correspondent and returned to Britain.
Bradby was eventually promoted to ITV political editor and then presenter.