Prince Harry & Meghan Markle working to protect £18m Spotify podcast deal after failing to produce any content this year

HARRY and Meghan are working to protect their £18million podcast deal after failing to produce any content this year — leaving Spotify chiefs mystified.

Pressure has been mounting on the pair to follow up the only episode of their multi-year contract — a solitary 35-minute holiday special last December.

Spotify last year excitedly announced it was expecting a full-scale launch of content from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex throughout 2021.

But with only one show under their belts, the streaming platform has so far paid the couple £500,000 for each minute.

Meanwhile, Harry has appeared on numerous other podcasts, including Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert in May, where he said his life was like Jim Carrey film The Truman Show.

They both also found time to sit down for their sensational Oprah interview in March — while the Duchess played pranks on the Ellen DeGeneres show earlier this month.

Spotify bosses are said to have given the pair’s Archewell Audio brand a “gentle nudge” to finish the content and protect the future of the multimillion-pound deal.

It is believed that the couple are now close to satisfying their streaming giant paymaster.

'They must deliver'

One source said: “Spotify were delighted when they signed the couple, but the lack of content has mystified them. Particularly as they seem to have no problem producing content for other platforms.”

The Sun understands Harry and Meghan, who hired veteran podcast producer Rebecca Sanaes as their head of audio in August, will announce a raft of new episodes in time for Christmas.

Another source said: “When Harry and Meghan signed the Spotify deal in December, they didn’t really have a full audio team behind them, there were no scripts ready and they hadn’t made podcasts before. The holiday special episode was whacked together but, even though it was well received by fans, it was hard for them to pull off.”

Harry told Oprah they were forced to seek commercial deals outside the royal family after they were financially cut off following Megxit.

They live in an £11million mansion in Montecito, California.

Angela Levin, Prince Harry’s biographer, said: “Harry and Meghan want to do too many things at the same time.”

If the contract says that they must deliver content in 2021 then they will need to do so.

Commercial contract solicitor Neil Williamson

Legal experts say Harry and Meghan will need to meet any deadlines stipulated in their contract, which is being kept under wraps.

Commercial contract solicitor Neil Williamson, of EM Law, said: “If the contract says that they must deliver content in 2021 then they will need to do so.”

Alex Cook, Partner at , a specialist litigation firm of solicitors, added: "It might be considered embarrassing for Harry, Megan and Spotify equally to air any dispute publicly and it wouldn’t be surprising if there are private commercial arbitration clauses to manage any disputes between them all."

Archewell Audio was approached for comment. Spotify said last night: “Big things are coming. Stay tuned.”