Meghan Markle’s Netflix cooking show ‘could be AXED’ after her and Harry’s out-of-touch Polo doc flopped
MEGHAN Markle’s Netflix cooking show could reportedly be axed after her and Prince Harry’s out-of-touch Polo documentary flopped.
The streaming giant is said to be unimpressed with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s output since signing a $100million (£80m) deal to produce content.
Their contract promised TV that “informs but also gives hope” through a “relatable lens”.
However, their five-part series on the privileged sport has left viewers and critics baffled, and platform bosses running out of patience.
Netflix didn’t even afford it a marketing campaign, with the only promotion a brief statement released by Harry, 40.
The couple only make a brief appearance on screen.
COOKERY SHOW
For nearly a year there have been rumours that Meghan, 43, is making her own show celebrating “the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship”.
But there has been little update on the series – supposed to complement her luxury brand American Riviera Orchard – with no release date in sight.
A Netflix insider told MailOnline the duchess’ show may never come to fruition – while others claim if it ever does get made it will be “make or break” for the couple’s hopes of a TV dynasty.
They added: “People say Netflix are exhausted. It’s so much work with her and, bluntly, the ‘deliverable’ does not seem to be worth it.”
The couple’s five-year deal comes to an end in August next year.
One executive told the news platform the cookery show will need to be “an enormous hit” to turn their fortunes around.
In light of their Polo show tanking, one source told the Mail: “There won’t be another deal. There may be one offs but that’s it.”
And they claim they were told by an unnamed A-list celebrity “it’s not a good look to be around them”.
It comes after Meghan reportedly missed Oprah Winfrey‘s surprise bash for mutual pal Gail King’s 70th over the weekend.
Meghan was seen at a grocery store and doing a photo shoot in a Beverly Hills park in June, leading to claims her cookery show had started filming.
It’s understood it is being shot at a mansion nearby to the Sussexes’ Montecito home, directed by revered filmmaker Michael Steed, who previously worked with the late chef Anthony Bourdain.
The response to Polo has been savage, with one viewer calling it “unintentionally hilarious”, while another said it was “tedious”.
The Guardian’s review says: “It’s a show about privileged people showing us exactly how privileged they are, which means there isn’t a lot of drama to be found.”
TV critic Stuart Heritage said their Harry & Meghan reality show was followed by two “forgettable” documentaries about the Invictus Games and leadership.
He suggested Netflix “seems reluctant” to release the cookery show, as a result.
There are reports Harry and Meghan won’t see the full $100m as their output hasn’t been enough.
However, earlier this year Netflix’s chief content officer Bela Bajaria said they had multiple projects in production under Archewell Productions.
As well as a couple of “unscripted” projects, the Sussexes are said to be working on a film and another series, reported the Times in February.
The Sun has approached Harry and Meghan’s representatives for comment.