Did Meghan Markle Casting Speculation Hurt 'The Gentlemen' — Ratings Reportedly Down 50%
An analysis indicated that the first episode of the new season of a popular British show attracted only 3 million viewers in the UK.
Meghan Markle was rumored to have landed the role of her career before her much-anticipated return to the UK. It was widely speculated that the Duchess would be featured in Guy Ritchie's Netflix crime drama The Gentlemen. However, during that period, season 2 was yet to debut, and the third installment hadn't been announced yet, which deepened the mystery surrounding the Duchess's casting. Later, Tina Brown, the former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, revealed on her Fresh Hell Substack that Markle's casting in season 3 was withdrawn due to intense backlash in the UK, raising concerns about her acting comeback in the country. According to fresh reports, season 2, which debuted on Netflix on September 3, has taken a major hit due to this controversy.
An analysis after seven days of streaming indicated that the first episode of The Gentlemen attracted only 3 million viewers in the UK, reflecting a 15% drop from season 1's premiere, which had garnered 3.5 million viewers in March 2024. These ratings, provided by Overnights.tv via Barb, contrast with Netflix's view-count metrics, as the streaming giant doesn't acknowledge viewership data, Deadline reported.
Additionally, the series garnered only 6.7 million views in its first four days, registering a visible drop in audience compared to 2024; however, its renewal remains unaffected, as it has been confirmed for a third season by the streaming platform. The popular British show's drop in ratings caused it to fall to third on Netflix's English TV list from August 31 to September 6, and it is experiencing an almost 50% decline in audience compared to the premiere viewership of season 1.
Theo James, the lead actor, had a bizarre response to rumors that Markle might join Season 3 of the show: "Yes, Fergie is joining," he told Town & Country, adding sarcastically, "She’ll be playing my love interest," referring to Sarah Ferguson. He dismissed speculation about the Duchess of Sussex's involvement as "a lot of hot air," while also noting that the focus was on maximizing viewership for season two, with plans for season three underway. The rumors were further squashed by Manda Levin, Netflix's UK scripted chief, who, when asked about Makle's rumored casting at the Edinburgh TV Festival, said, "All bets are off."
Ray Winstone, another cast member from the show, had a very curt reaction when questioned about the Duchess's possible entry. Winstone refused to acknowledge Markle and even flatly denied meeting her. When probed further during his appearance on The Romesh Ranganathan Show, he stated, "What, in The Gentlemen? Oh, shut up. I don't think so." The Duchess has returned to the UK along with Prince Harry and her children; however, she has not confirmed anything about the speculations, and neither has Netflix.
