Meghan Markle set to co-host Junior MasterChef Australia in 2027

Channel 10 in Australia has officially confirmed that Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will serve as a co-host for the new season of Junior MasterChef Australia. She is set to join the 2027 series as a special guest, working alongside the show’s regular host, Poh Ling Yeow. The announcement marks a significant return for the duchess to the Australian television landscape.

Upon receiving the news, Meghan expressed her enthusiasm for the role. In a statement, she said she could not wait to take part in the program. She noted that she loves cooking with her own children and that watching young chefs create dishes in the kitchen would be a great deal of fun. This follows her previous appearance as a guest judge on the main MasterChef Australia series last year.

Her earlier appearance on the show drew considerable attention. Paramount ANZ reported that the episode featuring Meghan achieved the show’s largest Sunday audience since 2023. This strong viewership likely contributed to the decision to bring her back for the junior edition of the competition.

The announcement arrives at a time when Meghan is facing increased public scrutiny. This is largely due to allegations that her father, Thomas Markle, has been accused of child sexual abuse. Markle has strongly denied the claims, calling them lies intended to damage his reputation. Reports suggest that Meghan cut contact with her father last year after informing him that she and authorities were aware of the abuse.

Meghan’s renewed presence in Australia comes after a four-day tour she and Prince Harry completed in April. It was during this trip that her initial MasterChef debut was revealed. The announcement was made on the second day of the tour, a Wednesday when the duchess had been notably absent from public engagements. That same evening, it emerged that she had been filming an episode of the program.

Regarding compensation, it is understood that Meghan was not paid for her previous guest judging role. However, Network 10, which broadcasts the series under the Paramount ANZ banner, has not yet confirmed whether she will be paid for co-hosting the Junior MasterChef season. The network did not respond to specific inquiries from the BBC on this matter.

The move to co-host a major Australian show follows recent changes in the couple’s personal and professional lives. In August, Meghan and Harry announced their decision to move back to the United Kingdom from California. They had originally left the UK and stepped back from royal duties in early 2020 before settling in California in March of that same year.

Since leaving the royal family, the couple has pursued various media careers. These ventures included a high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey, as well as deals with streaming and audio platforms 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 on Netflix, titled With Love, Meghan, ran for two series and a Christmas special, although it did not achieve strong audience numbers. Additionally, last year Meghan’s trademark was registered in Australia across more than a dozen product categories, including cookware and table linen, signaling her continued commercial interest in the lifestyle sector.

The 2027 season of Junior MasterChef Australia is expected to be a major event given the involvement of a prominent international figure. The collaboration aims to blend the competitive nature of the cooking show with the personal touch of the duchess, who has shown a clear interest in culinary content in recent years.