They’ve already signed a deal to become film and TV producers, and now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to become podcasters.

Harry and Meghan will produce and host podcasts for Spotify, the audio streaming service has announced.

The multi-year partnership is with Archewell Audio, an “audio-first production company” created by the Sussexes as part of their charitable foundation Archewell.

It’s unclear how much the signed deal is worth, but in a relaxed and playful audio teaser for the new partnership, the couple talk about their desire to produce programming that highlights diverse perspectives and voices.

Harry is heard saying: “Shall we start? Ladies first?” before Meghan responds: “No, say it because I think it sounds really nice with your accent.”

She continues: “One of the things my husband and I have always talked about is our passion for meeting people and hearing their stories.

“And no matter what the story, they usually offer you an understanding of where someone else is coming from and at the same time remind you in some way of a story about yourself.”

Sharing their excitement ahead of the launch, the couple said in a joint statement: “What we love about podcasting is that it reminds all of us to take a moment and to really listen, to connect to one another without distraction.

“With the challenges of 2020, there has never been a more important time to do so, because when we hear each other, and hear each other’s stories, we are reminded of how interconnected we all are.”

Later this month, a Christmas show will be released with a complete series expected next year.

Speaking about the “Holiday Special”, Harry said they “can’t wait to share it”.

Meghan said of the upcoming show: “We’re talking to some amazing people, they’re going to share their memories that have really helped shape this past year which has been, as we know, a difficult one for everyone.”

Harry continued: “So many people have been through so much pain this year, experiencing loss, a huge amount of uncertainty, but it feels worth acknowledging that 2020 has connected us in ways we could have never imagined, through endless acts of compassion and kindness.”

Spotify’s chief content and advertising business officer Dawn Ostroff said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may live in California but the power of their voices rests in their status as citizens of the world.

“That they are embracing the extraordinary capacity of podcasts on Spotify while also seeking to elevate underrepresented voices is a testament to their appreciation for the potential of audio storytelling.

“We are proud to partner with the duke and duchess and look forward to listeners hearing directly from them and the other creators that they will be elevating via our global platform.”

This year, Harry and Meghan have appeared on a number of different podcasts as guests including the Teenage Therapy podcast to mark World Mental Health Day, where Meghan described how “in 2019, I was the most trolled person in the entire world – male or female”.

The Spotify deal joins a growing list of partnerships that the Sussexes have signed up to this year after announcing they wanted to step away from royal life and become financially independent, the most high profile being a contract to produce content for Netflix.

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