Meghan Markle urged to make change to Netflix cooking show by royal family chef

Meghan Markle made headlines worldwide when she revealed her plans to host her own lifestyle and cooking show, despite lacking professional culinary training.

Her show, With Love, Meghan, premiered on Netflix last month, sparking a heated debate as critics slammed the series. And now, chef Jameson Stocks also expressed his disappointment with the cooking show, describing it as "fake and awkward."

Before becoming Prince Harry's wife in 2018, Meghan, now 43, was best known for her role in the popular American TV drama Suits. She portrayed the character Rachel Zane for seven seasons before stepping away to focus on her royal responsibilities.

However, in 2020, both Meghan and Prince Harry bid farewell to their life in Windsor, England, and relocated to California. Despite her high-profile acting career and mingling with Hollywood's elite, Meghan has little to no formal culinary experience.

Now Jameson, who previously cooked for King Charles, has shared his thoughts on the show, telling the Daily Express, "When the content produced by Netflix for her is as poor as it has been, it's bound to spark divisive discussions." Reflecting on the eight-part series, the chef added, "I genuinely feel that Netflix missed an opportunity here; viewers appreciate seeing Meghan's human side, like her demeanor during the Grenfell tragedy, hands-on and helping."

He argued that the lack of authenticity in the show made it challenging for viewers to relate and connect with. The expert went on to critique her choice of filming in a "rented house, in beautiful designer outfits," calling it out of touch with "not real life," especially considering the current global situation and the ongoing "cost of living crisis."

When asked what he would have preferred from the Duchess of Sussex, he expressed, "Personally, I would like to see a more authentic program that brings out her fun and natural side. I find it hard to watch the current programming, as it feels quite awkward and fake."

Jameson shared his thoughts on what viewers might have preferred, which could have potentially avoided some of the negative feedback that has been making rounds recently. He stated, "I believe that viewers are looking for authenticity, but I can't quite connect with it; it feels more like a staged romance. There's only so much of it people can take before thinking, 'Come on, get a grip'."

The chef felt the show lacked personality and seemed contrived. Given that the Sussexes often mention their children in interviews, it would have been fitting to include some family elements. Adding to this, Jameson said, "I would have preferred to see Meghan in her home, with Prince Harry coming and going. While I understand they might not want to feature the children on camera, I feel it could have been more genuine."

"It would definitely have been an improvement to film in her own home or even in a studio, rather than wandering around a rented property, which feels as artificial as the cooking we've seen," Jameson remarked. In a surprise turn for fans, just three days after the series premiered, Meghan took to social media to announce the return of the show for a second season. Details from a press release confirm that the production of season 2 is complete and viewers should expect its release before the year's end, though no official release date has been given.

Jameson expressed his hope for the upcoming season, mentioning it could use an "added genuine touch" showing more authenticity from Meghan. He suggested the Duchess might consider including "some bloopers or mistakes, as I'm sure she experienced her fair share of mishaps, just like we all do when cooking on television-particularly during pre-recorded segments." Expanding on the point, he mentioned with good humor, "Honestly, there's nothing wrong with that; it reveals her human side."

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