Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson pins hopes on bagging her own US chat show to help Prince Andrew pay mounting bills as it’s claimed he’s become a ‘lost soul’ with the Duchess of York desperate to support him
- MAIL ON SUNDAY EXCLUSIVE
The Duchess of York is hoping to land a lucrative chat show in America in a bid to help her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, pay his mounting bills.
TV producer Amy Rosenblum told The Mail on Sunday that she met Sarah Ferguson at New York’s Regency Hotel last month and discussed possible formats.
Ms Rosenblum, one of the most respected figures in US television, who was a long-time producer of America’s top-rated breakfast programme, NBC’s Today Show, said: ‘Sarah told me, “I want a show! I want a show!”
‘I did a pilot with her about 15 years ago. We were up against Ellen DeGeneres and ultimately they went with Ellen.
‘But Sarah was really good when we did the pilot. We have been friends since then.’
The Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson is hoping to land a lucrative chat show in America
Disgraced Prince Andrew has been spotted horse-riding again today, as doubts about the future of his Windsor Royal Lodge home swirl
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson wave outside of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day, London, England, July 23, 1986
Ms Rosenblum declined to comment on specific pitches which may be in the pipeline.
But an insider at ABC TV, part of giant Disney Studios, said: ‘Fergie could reasonably expect to earn around £2million a year, but that figure would go up considerably should her show be a hit.
READ MORE: Prince Andrew is back in the saddle: Disgraced royal is spotted out on horseback again as doubts swirl about the future of his Windsor Royal Lodge home
‘She’s always gone down well in America. She’s never been too proud to promote the heck out of anything, be it one of her books or WeightWatchers.
‘Americans respect someone who hustles.’
James Cordon earned around £2million a year when he first launched his late-night show in the US but saw this balloon to more than £7 million before he quit to return to Britain.
The ABC source said: ‘Ellen has retired so there is a gap in the market.’
DeGeneres hosted her show for 19 years until she stepped down last year.
She built a fortune in excess of £100million and is friends with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are neighbours of hers in Montecito.
Drew Barrymore earns £4million a year hosting her daily show and former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson has a £3million-a-year contract for her daytime series.
Fergie is reportedly keen to help bankroll £2million worth of essential maintenance work at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew attend day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 21, 2019
The King culled Andrew’s annual allowance – believed to be in the region of £250,000 – following the emergence of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal
Andrew had faced losing his 30-room mansion until he paid £200,000 for urgent roof repairs this summer.
A source told the Mail on Sunday: ‘It’s true Sarah wants to help Andrew stay in what she considers their family home. She lives at Royal Lodge when she’s in the UK. It’s very much their family’s base.
READ MORE: Prince Andrew ‘has no long-term future’ at his Royal Lodge home, King Charles ‘privately believes’ despite reports the Duke of York had been allowed to stay there ‘indefinitely’
‘Andrew has lost so much. She will do everything she can to help him keep the house, even though it may prove untenable in the long term.’
The Prince was stripped of his Royal duties and patronages after Virginia Roberts claimed she was sex-trafficked to him by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew has vigorously and consistently denied all allegations.
He settled a civil lawsuit in America brought by Ms Roberts for a reported £12million but admitted no liability.
Friends say that the Prince has been left ‘bereft’ by events and is a ‘lost soul’.
‘He rides his horses and goes for long walks but he is a lost soul and veers between bafflement and feeling bereft by the turn of events,’ said one woman who is in touch with members of his inner circle.
‘He has always maintained his innocence and those close to him believe him absolutely.
‘He is struggling. He was able to pay for the emergency roof repairs but that was very much an interim fix.
‘The overall repair bill is considerably higher and you have to factor in the day-to-day running costs of a place like Royal Lodge.
Amy Rosenblum, one of the most respected figures in US television, who was a long-time producer of America’s top-rated breakfast programme, NBC’s Today Show, said: ‘Sarah told me, “I want a show! I want a show!”. Pictured at The Perfect World Foundation Award gala on September 13, 2023
The Duke and Duchess of York were gifted the Grade II-listed property from the Crown Estate in 2004
Rumours that King Charles privately believes his younger brother ‘has no long-term future’ at his royal home have been circulating. The King pictured in June
‘Money, or the lack of it, has been a constant in Andrew and Sarah’s relationship.
‘She will do everything she can to support him now, just as she always has.’
The Duchess has enjoyed lucrative deals in the US since her divorce.
In 1989, her then-financial advisor John Bryan negotiated a £4.6million deal for her Budgie The Little Helicopter, books, which spawned TV shows and merchandising deals.
WeightWatchers paid her a reported £22million over 11 years to be the company’s spokesman.
Wedgwood paid her £500,000 to promote its china and internet company World Online forked out £1million for her to serve as its global ambassador.
She has sold everything from blenders to teabags in the US.
She currently sells digital art and poetry online and has a deal with romance novel company Mills & Boon for an undisclosed sum.
Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew during attending the 2015 Royal Ascot
Prince Andrew was seen yesterday horse-riding for the first time weeks, following claims that the King privately believes ‘has no long-term future’ at his Royal Lodge home
The ABC source said: ‘The amount she’d earn as a chat-show host depends on the network.
‘Streaming services like Netflix are no longer offering silly money like they did with Harry and Meghan. A lot of people got burned.
‘But Americans still love a Royal title and English accent and Sarah has both.
‘If she’s serious about doing a chat show then doors will definitely open for her.’
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