She’s regularly appeared as a guest on daytime TV talk shows and podcasts in recent years and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson has been enjoying her time in the spotlight – so much so that reports have claimed she could be fronting a new segment on ITV’s This Morning soon.

But an insider says Sarah’s newfound fame only been made possible by Meghan Markle leaving the UK in 2020 and leaving a gap in the entertainment industry for a royal family member to fill.

A source says, “Sarah is super excited to be throwing her hat in the ring for a lucrative UK talk show deal. She’s seeing Meghan Markle’s estrangement from the monarchy as her gain in the glamour stakes.”
Earlier this month, it was claimed Sarah, 64, was in talks with ITV’s This Morning for a guest slot on the Daytime show.

It came after her successful guest appearance on ITV1’s lunchtime panel show, Loose Women, earlier this month, where Sarah opened up on her battle with breast cancer. She also appeared on This Morning in March with the show’s former longstanding host Holly Willoughby. During the interview, Holly asked Sarah if she would like to come back to the show to lead a love phone-in segment.

Sarah’s even got her sights set on US television. Last month, US TV producer Amy Rosenblum said she’d met Sarah and discussed possible formats for a US chat show, such as The View. Amy, 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!”

The insider says that while Sarah has a soft spot for former Suits actress Meghan, 42, she’s relieved she isn’t around to take the spotlight.

“Sarah’s actually quite fond of Meghan, but that doesn’t mean she’s not pleased as punch that she’s across the pond. It means more opportunity and attention for her, which she loves,” they say.

The source adds that the opportunity that’s been offered to Sarah is not something Princess of Wales, Kate, would consider taking. But Meghan – who along with starring in seven series of Suits, appeared on America’s Deal or No Deal and has collaborated with Disneynature as a VoiceOver on the film Elephant – would if her and Harry had remained in the UK after stepping down as senior royals in January 2020.

“This gig that Sarah’s up for isn’t something Kate would ever go for, so there’s no competition there. Whereas Meghan, with her Hollywood background, might actually be interested, she’s someone Sarah sees as competition,” the source says.

They add, “But with her gone, Sarah is the go-to option when someone wants a Royal talking head, and she intends to milk it for all it’s worth.”

Sarah has appeared on daytime shows numerous times over the last few years. She took part in interviews on both Lorraine and Loose Women in 2021, where she spoke about how her and her ex husband Prince Andrew love being grandparents to their daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice’s children.
Most recently, during her stint as a guest panellist on Loose Women, she urged viewers to go for routine mammogram screenings, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in June and had a mastectomy as a result. She spoke openly and candidly about how she felt on the car journey home, in the immediate aftermath of her diagnosis and how she’d been left fearing she’d never get to see her grandchildren grow up.
Sarah urged viewers, “Please, please, please go get get your screening. Please,” before opening up on how she told daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie that doctors ‘were a bit worried about something’ before she got her full diagnosis, adding she was ‘incredibly lucky.’

The source says while Sarah hasn’t confirmed the rumoured gig on This Morning, the likelihood of her hosting a slot on daytime TV is high, because of her open and personable nature.

“The ITV bosses aren’t just offering a spot on This Morning, they’re looking at her for a number of possible gigs, so it seems highly likely that she will say yes to something. The Morning gig is actually the perfect job for her. She’s so naturally chatty and always game for a laugh and a bit of lighthearted fun. She’s also got a lot of empathy and that comes across when she’s speaking to people, she really impressed everyone when she co-hosted Loose Women,” they say.

“When you add all that together with her Royal Family cache and you can see why the bosses are desperate to sign her up. This is all a huge switch from how things were for Sarah not all that long ago.
“These days she’s actually quite a well-loved character, but that wasn’t always the case. There was a time when her approval rating was pretty much rock bottom so she’s come a long way,” they add.
Sarah married Prince Andrew in 1983, after her friend, the late Princess of Wales, Diana introduced them Andrew served in the navy and was away for long periods of time. The long-distance nature of their marriage took its toll on the couple, with Buckingham Palace announcing their separation in 1992.

Just months after their split was announced, photos emerged of Fergie holidaying in St Tropez with new lover, financier John Bryan. Snaps showing John sucking on the Duchess of York’s toes hit headlines around the world and saw Fergie ousted from the royal family.

In 2010, she was filmed in a sting accepting cash in return for access to Andrew. However, Andrew stood by her. She recently returned the loyalty as she supported him during his denial that he was a co-conspirator of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the scandalous headlines, Sarah has shown she is a doting and loyal mother, grandmother, ex wife and more importantly enjoys having fun and is liked by the public.

The source explains, “The feeling among most people is that she deserves this. She’s actually a very well-meaning and kind person and she’s had a very tough time in recent years, with her health issues more recently and of course no thanks also due to Andrew and his Epstein scandal. Which really had nothing to do with her, but of course she took the heat.

“People are happy to see her getting this opportunity where she can thrive and have some fun, which, after all, is what she stands for.”

In contrast, Meghan has had a quiet year after her and Harry’s Spotify deal was axed. She teased something big was coming when she signed with a Hollywood agent and set up a new Instagram account, but her next big showbiz move is yet to be announced.

“It’s safe to say if Meghan had chosen to stick around the Royal Family and the UK this This Morning gig would likely be getting offered to her. There’s absolutely no doubt that Meghan’s departure from the scene and the family has created and opportunity for Sarah, and for others too, if they want to step up,” the source explains.