A British celebrity chef who claims he turned down the chance to work as a consultant on Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle series now says the show leaves behind a sour taste.
Appearing on the U.K.’s GB News on Saturday, Jameson Stocks described “With Love, Meghan,” which premiered on Netflix last week, as “terrible.”
When asked to clarify what he disliked about the series, Stocks said, “Everything.”
“The music is quite slow. It’s quite lethargic,” he said. “It’s quite painful to watch.”
A native of Leeds, England, Stocks has worked in the kitchens of several Michelin-starred restaurants and reportedly prepped meals for the likes of Tom Hanks and Lady Gaga over the course of his culinary career.
He said he was contacted by Netflix last year if he’d be interested in consulting “on a lifestyle program.” Though producers didn’t mention Markle by name, he noted, “I already kind of knew who it was.”
As to why he declined the offer, Stocks said, “I felt that, even if she produced a really great program ― which I was quite skeptical of anyway ― that I might get a little bit slammed for it, for being a part of it.”
A day after Stocks’ GB News interview aired, however, a New York Post article cast doubt on his claims about being approached to be a part of “With Love, Meghan.”
When contacted by HuffPost, a representative for the Duchess of Sussex would not comment on the record regarding Stocks’ remarks.
“With Love, Meghan” marks a new professional chapter for Markle. The eight-episode series follows the Duchess of Sussex “in the kitchen, garden — and even at the beehive — as she prepares to host friends both old and new,” according to Netflix, with guests that include “The Office” actor Mindy Kaling and Korean-American chef Roy Choi.
Though “With Love, Meghan” was originally slated to hit Netflix in January, Markle postponed the series premiere as wildfires devastated the Los Angeles area of Southern California. Much of the show is set at the Montecito, California, home Markle shares with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, located about 90 miles’ northeast of downtown Los Angeles.
Early reviews of “With Love, Meghan” have been mixed to negative, with New York Magazine’s Vulture blog calling it “wildly unattainable” and “mind-bogglingly basic.” In spite of the naysayers, Netflix confirmed over the weekend that a second season was in the works.
When asked what he thought Markle should consider next in her career, Stocks told GB News she’d be best served by returning to acting. Before marrying into the British royal family, Markle rose to prominence as Rachel Zane on “Suits.”
Enjoy HuffPost Entertainment — Ad Free
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
“She’s quite a good actress, in real life or on-screen,” Stocks said. “People should stick to what they do best.”