Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle is confirmed to appear on Network 10’s “Junior Masterchef Australia” in 2027 as a special guest.
Markle will join Poh Ling Yeow on the show as the network revives the children’s cooking competition.
For 10, it’s a coup, landing a recognisable international name to help sell a returning format. For Markle, it’s another chance to establish her culinary credentials, even though she was given two seasons with Netflix on her lifestyle (?) cooking (?) amateur craft (?) show, “With Love, Meghan”.
Leaving the royals really seems to be paying off. Ahem.
The announcement arrives with quite the garnish. Meghan is being touted as an “entrepreneur”, “actress”, “humanitarian” and “passionate home cook”, with her Emmy-nominated series “With Love”, Meghan described as “globally celebrated”. Again, it was also cancelled after two seasons, but who’s counting?
As Mediaweek previously reported, Netflix ended its partnership with her lifestyle brand As Ever earlier this year, following the decision not to renew “With Love, Meghan” beyond two seasons.
Against that backdrop, a special guest appearance on an Australian cooking spin-off feels like a modest booking for someone carrying so much duchess.
Look, it’s perfectly respectable work, and the team at Network 10 and Paramount Australia are clever cookies to nab her twice. However, the distance between the grand introduction and the actual job raises an eyebrow. The biography practically needs its own publicist; the booking is “Junior MasterChef”.
Admittedly, these children can probably temper chocolate, but they’re still young enough to name the finished product “poo-poo pie”. Her Royal Highness, if you’d care to taste.
Meghan, for her part, sounds delighted.
“I had an incredible time with the whole team at MasterChef this past April, so when they approached me to come back and work with this young group of talent, it was an easy yes. 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. I can’t wait to see what they cook up!”
The network has a useful answer for anyone wondering why it went back for more: according to 10, Meghan’s 2026 “MasterChef Australia” appearance delivered the program’s largest Sunday audience since 2023.
Endemol Shine Australia, part of Banijay Entertainment, will produce the series, with international distribution through Banijay Rights.
From Mediaweek