MasterChef finalists have revealed what it was like working with Meghan Markle after the Duchess of Sussex appeared as a surprise guest judge on the Australian version of the hit BBC show.
Top 4 finalists Petro Papathomas and Casper Kenworthy shared their experience with TV Week, admitting they were caught off guard by her presence.
Finalists Praise Meghan's Genuine Nature
Petro said: “I remember watching her in Suits. I was a bit starstruck. She was really genuine. There’s been so much written about her, you kind of don’t know what to believe, but I loved her. She was so kind and talks really intelligently about food as well.”
Casper added: “Never in a million years would you think that she would be on MasterChef, and she was one of our favourite judges as well. She was interested in what you were doing and wanting to chat.”
Confidence on Camera Helped Contestants
Casper noted that Meghan’s experience in front of the camera made the judging process smoother. “When you have someone who’s used to being in front of a camera and on TV, it’s a lot smoother. Some guest judges who come on might come across a bit awkward because it’s not their day-to-day job being on camera. So having someone who has really good confidence on camera actually makes us more calm. So that was really valuable.”
Episode Details and Controversy
Meghan filmed the episode in April during the Sussexes’ week-long tour of Australia. It is due to air this weekend and will see her set an immunity challenge with a Mystery Box filled with ingredients she loves cooking with: carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, local Australian honey, macadamias, quince, lemons, apples, mandarins and strawberries.
However, Meghan was reportedly left unhappy after a comment by host Poh Ling Yeow, who welcomed her by saying: "We've had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before, but no one like this." According to Sky News Australia, the remark did not go down well. Sky News Lifestyle Reporter Chloe Walker claimed Meghan and her team were frustrated after the judges referred to her as "royalty." Walker said: "Apparently, Meghan and her team were a little bit upset and frustrated because the MasterChef judges referred to her as Royalty. I'm not sure why they would be frustrated."
