Sarah Ferguson planned a road trip TV show with comedian Alan Carr before the latest allegations regarding her links to Jeffrey Epstein, it has been reported.
Mr Carr found himself among the last visitors to Royal Lodge before Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Ms Ferguson were told to vacate the Windsor Estate residence, according to The Mail on Sunday.
The television personality, who claimed victory in last year’s Celebrity Traitors, received an invitation from the former Duchess of York for lunch earlier this year.
Friends of the pair told the outlet that they get on “like a house on fire.”
The meeting centred on discussions about a potential television programme that had been in development since 2023.
A source said: “Sarah had Alan over for lunch before she left Royal Lodge and said they could make a great partnership for telly, flying around the world together.”
The proposed programme would have seen Ms Ferguson, 66, and Mr Carr, 50, embarking on an adventure to peculiar and extraordinary locations across the globe.
Negotiations are understood to have progressed, with a production company already interested in the venture.
During their meal at the Windsor Estate property, the duo “actively discussed” their plans for the series.
A source explained: “After lunch, he was ushered into a drawing room to meet Andrew, who had been watching TV on a sofa. He seemed to hardly raise an eyebrow that Alan was there but Alan’s eyes were on stalks.”
The television venture swiftly unravelled shortly after Mr Carr’s visit to the residence, however.
Both Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Ms Ferguson were engulfed in fresh scandal following additional revelations concerning their connections to convicted paedophile Epstein.
The programme has now been placed on indefinite hold.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: “Alan went to Royal Lodge that day out of curiosity to see the house, though he also wanted to do a deal. It’s lucky he didn’t take it further because shortly after the meeting the Yorks were once again in disgrace.”
The insider added: “We don’t know what Alan makes of the Epstein saga and with Sarah in hiding, the whole idea has run into the sand.”
Mr Carr has reportedly maintained no contact with either York since the latest allegations.
While the comedian’s professional fortunes have flourished since his triumph on hit BBC show Celebrity Traitors, Ms Ferguson’s stock continues to plummet.
The former duchess had previously appeared on Carr’s Life’s A Beach podcast in 2023, and the comedian once attended Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s birthday celebration alongside a small gathering of guests.
A spokesman for Ms Ferguson previously told GB News: “The Duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims.
“Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia.”
