MEGHAN MARKLE SET TO 'CALL IN FAVOURS' FROM SUITS CO-STARS TO BOOST HER NEW PODCAST

While Meghan Markle's celebrity contact list "may have not completely diminished", the Duchess of Sussex now has a "smaller pool" of friends to rely on as guests for her upcoming podcasts with Lemonada Media, it has been claimed.

The Duchess of Sussex signed with Lemonada Media in February 2024 to launch a "dynamic new podcast" after her and Prince Harry's split with Spotify, which saw the release of a 12-episode podcast series called Archetypes.

Meghan's Archetypes podcast about female stereotypes ran for just one series before her lucrative deal with the streaming giant ended in 2023. The new deal comes a year after the Duchess and her husband Prince Harry ended their £15million deal with Spotify and three years after it was signed.

Speaking on behalf of Betfred about potential celebrity guests, celebrity PR Specialist Kayley Cornelius exclusively told Express.co.uk: "While Meghan's contact list may not have completely diminished, she will certainly have a smaller pool to rely on.

"Initially, we might expect her to call in favours from her remaining friends and work through their networks. For instance, long-term friend Priyanka Chopra, who did not feature on 'Archetypes,' could be among the first names Meghan considers."

She added Meghan may have to call up her former TV Suits show colleagues, continuing: "Other potential guests could include friends from her 'Suits' days, such as Abigail Spencer and Wendell Pierce, who likely remain accessible points of contact for Meghan."

It comes amid Meghan Markle's recent rumoured spats with high-profile figures, such as Victoria Beckham, who used to be reportedly close to the Duchess. David and Victoria Beckham had long been friendly with Prince Harry and the rest of the royals, however over the last few years their relationship with the Sussexes seems to have soured.

In his new release House of Beckham, royal author, Tom Bower claimed Meghan was "irritated" that Victoria had more wealth than her and that the two had "little in common" when they first met.

Kayley explained: "There's no doubt that Meghan's recent public fallingouts with high-profile celebrities such as the Beckhams and George Clooney will have a knock-on effect. It may deter others from working with the Duchess due to concerns about how it could impact their own reputations."

The celebrity PR specialist claimed Hollywood actors such as Zendaya and Tom Holland are rumoured to be in touch with the Duchess of Sussex, however, the chances of appearing on the platform a low because of "high fees and limited availability", which will "surpass the podcast's budget" and platform capabilities.

The celebrity expert claims there is a way for Meghan to get around a lack of celebrity connections: "If Meghan's new podcast aligns with her upcoming Netflix series and emphasises lifestyle content, she might pivot by engaging high-profile experts in various fields. Drawing inspiration from successful shows like Steven Bartlett's 'Diary of a CEO' could help compensate for the lack of traditional celebrity connections.

She added: "Potential collaborators might include stylist Jessica Mulroney and photographer Jake Rosenberg, both of whom Meghan has been associated with in recent years. This approach could effectively raise awareness for her brand, American Riviera Orchard."

Archetypes, Meghan's original Spotify show, had around one million listens per episode and debuted as Spotify's No. 1 podcast in 47 countries around the world when it launched in August 2022, according to the Daily Mail. Guests such as tennis star, Serena Williams, and superstar singer, Mariah Carey previously appeared on her podcast.

In a statement earlier this year, Meghan said: "I'm proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting."

Prior to the new signing, Spotify and the Sussexes's audio production company Archewell Audio released a joint statement saying they "mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together".

2024-06-30T04:05:06Z dg43tfdfdgfd