Meghan Markle's confirmation as co-host of Junior MasterChef Australia has prompted a backlash among some Australians who question the choice of the Duchess of Sussex over homegrown talent.
The Duchess was confirmed for the role on Tuesday, October 27. She previously appeared as a guest judge on the main MasterChef series in April during her and Harry's Australia tour, where her on-screen chemistry with chef Poh Ling Yeow won over fans. Filming for the new series is scheduled for early-to-mid 2027 in Melbourne.
Public Reaction on Melbourne Streets
Speaking to fans on the streets of Melbourne on Wednesday, The Mirror found mixed reactions, with a petition against the appearance having gained hundreds of signatures. Les Aldridge, 81, said: "I'm not really a fan. I would sign the petition."
Selby Witteveen, 77, who lived in London and Hythe, in Kent, until 2020, said: "I hate her. She thinks she is a chef. Somebody had paid for her to come. She just wants money. She is there only trading on royalty, which she is no longer."
Rosa, 76, added: "I think it's a joke. Why do we need her? We have so many Australians that could do that job. I'm not a fan of hers. I think we should get an Australian to do it."
Bayley, 27, who lives in St Kilda, thought "it probably should be a chef," before adding: "But I am not a chef so how can I judge?" He said he would not sign the petition, as did an American tourist who gave her name as 'Meg'.
Mixed Opinions and Context
The tourist, 75, said: "I guess it's name recognition. If you are looking to legitimise a cooking show you can find a few chefs from around the world to do that. I do not care about her, like most Americans. It's not in my top 100 issues — whatever she wants to do has zero effect on us."
Australia recently received its first-ever Michelin stars earlier this month, with inspectors awarding 10 restaurants one star and one eatery two stars, all in South Australia. Some younger Australians were unaware of who Meghan was, with one person thinking former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was about to have a career change.
Peter Heywood, 39, said: "My thought is it's a name that grabs people's attention. There's more than just a chef's perspective on food. I would just not care about the petition. There are a lot of people who are celebrities for no good reason. If someone is doing something that's not appropriate [for their skills], it is not a problem for me."
Mark, a Brit on holiday, added: "I think they [Meghan and Harry] should be left alone and she has done well for herself. Let them get on with their lives."
Viewing Figures
Meghan's guest appearance on MasterChef delivered 1.6 million viewers, according to figures released by Channel 10. The episode recorded the show's biggest overnight Sunday audience since July 2023 and set a new record for MasterChef Australia's largest-ever overnight streaming audience, attracting 118,000 viewers. Royal fans will be watching Melbourne with keen interest in 2027 when Meghan arrives for filming.
