“I just cannot work out what this woman has done to warrant the pure venom”

It might be a controversial opinion to express, but Frances Whiting believes Meghan Markle - and her new show ‘With Love, Meghan’ - don’t deserve the “venom” they are receiving.

Years ago, the people behind Monty Python put out a book, and a running gag though it was that Page 71 was coming, and every few pages there would be another breathless reference to the imminent arrival of this page.

But when Page 71 finally did arrive it was just a very plain page, with Page 71 in large, black capital letters.

This was immediately followed by another page of reviews, one of which said “Page 71. Oh what a boring disappointment’, and a raft of other criticisms.

A scene from With Love, Meghan. Picture: Netflix

Right at the bottom, however, in a very small font, one entry read “Well, I liked it”.

Well, I am about to have my version of the Page 71 “Well, I liked it” moment by saying I don’t mind Meghan Markle’s new show.

It’s called With Love, Meghan and it’s basically a lifestyle show where she makes things, bakes things and generally floats around a kitchen bench in white linen doing interesting things with fruit.

Look, it’s not David Attenborough’s Life on Earth, but it’s pretty harmless stuff. And yet, for pretty harmless stuff the vitriol that has greeted it has been both plentiful and particularly nasty.

Now I understand Meghan is a divisive figure, and I personally believe neither she or Prince Harry should have aired the Royal Family’s dirty laundry on Oprah, but honestly she’s not the first Princess to do so (Diana’s “There were three people in this marriage so it was a bit crowded” anyone?) and in the overall scheme of things I just cannot work out what this woman has done to warrant the pure venom that has greeted her show.

People are particularly upset that it was not filmed in her actual home, despite the fact she ‘fesses up to this straight off the bat.

And people are very angry about this, but frankly if someone wanted to make a With Love, Frances (be quiet, it could happen) lifestyle series and the producers said to me would you like to film it in an entirely different house, so you don’t have to whip around and clean it - ever - I would say “What is the address please?”

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stars in With Love, Meghan. Picture: : Netflix

People are also angry at her fruit platter. Because she likes to make one for her children that looks like a rainbow, and women - and I am sad to say it is mostly women - are outraged.

How very dare she? Who has time to chop up all that fruit, who would do that in real life? Well, can I just say as the inventor of the watermelon smiley cake slice, where I cut up slices of watermelon for my children and then put adorable blueberries in the shape of a smiley face, I liked Meghan’s fruity platter rainbow. I mean, it was no watermelon cake slice, but not everyone can attain my high domestic standards.

People were also cranky that Meghan makes her own honey - despite the fact (and please watch this show just to see the glory of this man) that the man she makes it with looks like he has come straight from Middle Earth to do so.

With Love, Meghan isn’t going to win any awards, but give it - and her - a go. It might just be the most peaceful thing you watch this year.

FRAN LOVES: Brisbane’s Naldham House. Gosh, it’s beautiful, and if you love a great steak, there’s a very special dinner coming up celebrating Queensland’s own Westholme Wagyu. Details on www.naldhamhouse.com.au