Australian TV: Meghan Markle confirmed as Junior MasterChef co-host

Channel 10 in Australia has confirmed that Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will co-host the 2027 season of Junior MasterChef Australia. She will work alongside the show's regular host, Poh Ling Yeow, as a special guest. The network has not yet stated whether Meghan will receive payment for this role.

The announcement follows strong viewership numbers from Meghan's previous appearance on the main MasterChef Australia series last year. Paramount ANZ reported that her guest judging segment attracted the show's largest Sunday audience since 2023. That performance likely influenced the decision to bring her back for the junior edition of the competition.

Meghan expressed enthusiasm for the new role in a statement. She said she could not wait to take part and noted that she loves cooking with her own children. She added that watching young chefs create dishes in the kitchen would be a great deal of fun.

This television commitment arrives during a period of personal transition for the couple. In August, Meghan and Prince Harry announced their decision to move back to the United Kingdom from California. They had originally left the UK in early 2020 and settled in California in March of that year. The move marks a shift from their time in the US to a renewed presence in their home country.

The Duchess's return to Australian screens coincides with increased public scrutiny of her family situation. Her father, Thomas Markle, has been accused of child sexual abuse, a claim he has strongly denied. Markle described the allegations as lies intended to damage his reputation. Reports indicate that Meghan cut contact with him last year after informing him that she and authorities were aware of the abuse.

Her initial involvement with the MasterChef franchise was revealed during a four-day tour of Australia completed with Prince Harry in April. The announcement was made on the second day of the trip, a Wednesday when Meghan had been absent from public engagements. It emerged that same evening that she had been filming an episode of the program. She was not paid for that previous guest judging role.

Since stepping back from royal duties, the couple has pursued various media careers, including a high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey and deals with Netflix and Spotify. Meghan also launched a lifestyle brand called As Ever, which includes a food range, though it ended its partnership with Netflix in March. Her cooking show, With Love, Meghan, ran for two series and a Christmas special on Netflix. Last year, her trademark was registered in Australia across more than a dozen product categories, including cookware and table linen.