In brief
The Duchess of Sussex has joined the 2027 season of Junior MasterChef Australia as a special guest host alongside Poh Ling Yeow. The announcement follows her previous guest‑judge appearance on the original series, which attracted 3rd‑place Sunday viewership. Meghan’s involvement comes at a time of heightened media attention over her father Thomas Markle’s sexual‑abuse allegations, which she has publicly denied and reportedly cut ties with. She has expressed enthusiasm for cooking with her children and watching young chefs compete. The she‑novation of this role is unreported to be paid, and the show will broadcast on Channel 10 as part of Paramount ANZ’s lineup.
Meghan Markle to Co‑Host Junior MasterChef Australia
The Duchess of Sussex has been confirmed as a co‑host of the 2027 season of Junior MasterChef Australia.
Meghan will join the show as a "special guest" alongside host Poh Ling Yeow, according to Channel 10, the series’ Australian broadcaster.
The Duchess said she "can’t wait" to take part in the programme after serving as a guest judge on the original MasterChef Australia last year, an appearance that drew the show’s biggest Sunday audience since 2023, the network said.
The announcement comes amid renewed scrutiny of Meghan’s family, after her father Thomas Markle was accused of child sexual abuse, allegations he denied. The BBC reports that Meghan broke contact with her father last year after learning that he had abused young girls; she has characterised the accusations as "lies" aimed at discrediting him.
It has not been confirmed whether Meghan will be paid for her co‑hosting role, as Network 10 did not respond to a BBC enquiry. However, the Duchess said in a statement, "I love cooking with my own kids, so seeing what these young stars create in the kitchen is going to be a lot of fun."
The decision to appear on the show follows a four‑day tour of Australia that Meghan and Prince Harry undertook in April. On the second day of that visit, her MasterChef debut was announced, and she subsequently was filmed in an episode of the programme.
Meghan’s media career has included a high‑profile interview with Oprah Winfrey and a partnership with Netflix and Spotify. Her own cookery series, "With Love, Meghan," ran for two series and a Christmas special, while her lifestyle brand As Ever, which includes a food range, ended its streaming partnership in March. She has registered a trademark in Australia for cookware and table linen.
She also announced in August that she and Prince Harry would be moving back to the UK from California, after momentarily living there since 2020.
