Matt Lauer tried to get Pippa Middleton a job on US Today show

Sacked US Today host Matt Lauer reportedly went to “excruciating” lengths to try to land the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister a job on the show.

Disgraced Matt Lauer once reportedly set his sights on hiring Kate Middleton’s sister Pippa and pushed to get her on air.

The former Today show anchor, who is at the centre of rape allegations by former producer Brooke Nevils, wanted Middleton to become a regular contributor, according to Page Six.

Lauer even shut down his favourite restaurant, Donohue’s Steak House on the Upper East Side, to host a dinner for the future queen’s sister, whose regal derrière became the unwitting star of Kate’s royal wedding to Prince William in 2011.

Pippa became an overnight star after serving as Kate’s maid of honour at the 2011 royal wedding. Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Lauer on the set of his former show. Picture: Nathan Congleton/NBC via AP

Pippa was accompanied by her publicist at the time, former UK newspaper editor Simon Kelner, alongside senior Today staffers, including former executive producer Don Nash, who thought it would be a good idea to hire her.

Lauer also interviewed Pippa personally on air and arranged for her to film a test shoot at a dude ranch in Montana, which, however, turned out to be “excruciating,” according to a source.

“Pippa wasn’t comfortable with any of it. Buckingham Palace was putting her under tremendous pressure not to go forward or cause any embarrassment to her sister. Matt and Pippa were never alone, and she wasn’t really interested in the job, but nevertheless NBC staffers were nervous about Matt’s interest in Pippa,” the source said.

Fortunately, Lauer was overruled by his then-boss at NBC News, Deborah Turness, who said “no” to hiring Pippa, now a happily married mum.

Ronan Farrow, in his new book, Catch and Kill, has spoken to a number of women who claim sexual harassment from Lauer — allegations that Lauer strenuously denies.

This article originally appeared on the NY Post and was reproduced with permission