While she's no longer welcome at Buckingham Palace, the Duchess of York may have found a place in the Oprah Winfrey Network.(Photo by John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Yesterday, July 25, it was announced that the Duchess of York is to have her own talk show on Oprah Winfrey's new television channel, the Oprah Winfrey Network. If the deal goes through, this may be the light at the end of the tunnel for the Duchess.
Duchess of York was talking about her own TV show before scandal broke
Earlier this year, before the cash-for-princes scandal broke, Sarah Ferguson had said that she wanted her own talk show in the United States. However, since the Duchess was caught on camera accepting money for access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, various opportunities, including a documentary about her life, had fallen through.
Last week it was reported that the Duchess had laid off all her staff, and that her long-term and long-suffering personal assistant had, in fact, laid off the Duchess. It is also believed that Prince Andrew has taken over the Duchess' finances, even as she continues to spend well beyond her means.
Oprah Winfrey interview may have opened doors to a return for the Duchess of York
In May, the Duchess of York gave an apologetic interview on the Oprah Winfrey show, which largely backfired as a public relations exercise. The Duchess was widely criticized by public and media alike for her admission of drinking and her actions, especially when she went on to recuperate in a high-ticket Portuguese spa with a department store shopping spree chaser.
While Ms. Winfrey had seemed neutral in the interview, she may have seen the potential for money-making and is reportedly impressed by the Duchess' ability to bootstrap her life after troubles. She also believed that the Duchess' very human foibles may allow an American audience to relate to the new TV show host.
American public may be able to related to Duchess of York as a chat show host
The Duchess' charity work and celebrity status may be her redeeming qualities, allowing her to rebuild a life, much as she did by joining the Weight Watchers support team after divorcing Prince Andrew.
Rumors abounded that Sarah Ferguson was invited to take part in Celebrity Rehab but that Buckingham Palace unequivocally forbade it. A prime-time slot on the Oprah Winfrey channel may be what the Duchess of York needs to start her life anew.
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