The Duchess of Sussex has been confirmed as a co-host for the upcoming series of Junior MasterChef Australia, a role that has drawn both excitement and criticism from royal watchers and fans of the cooking show.
Meghan Markle will host alongside Australian chef and TV presenter Poh Ling Yeow, with whom she appeared on MasterChef earlier this year. The announcement was made by Paramount Australia on Tuesday, which said the programme will air next year on Network Ten. The role will require Meghan to relocate to Melbourne for several weeks for filming.
Meghan's Statement on the New Role
Following the confirmation of her casting, Meghan issued a statement expressing her enthusiasm for the upcoming role. The statement said: “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.”
She added: “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.”
A statement from the company said: “With Poh’s culinary expertise and Meghan’s enthusiasm for cooking and nurturing young talent, Junior MasterChef Australia promises to serve up plenty of inspiration as the next generation of Australian cooks steps into the kitchen.”
Mixed Reactions and Petition
Despite the announcement, Meghan’s casting has drawn mixed reactions, with a petition against her appearance gaining hundreds of signatures among Australian watchers of the show. The petition, titled 'Remove Meghan Markle From Junior Masterchef Australia', gained hundreds of supporters overnight.
Some viewers expressed their disapproval. Les Aldridge, an 81-year-old from Melbourne, told the Mirror: “I’m not really a fan. I would sign the petition.” Selby Witteveen, 77, added: “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, said: “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 the Brit expat suburb St Kilda, thought “it probably should be a chef,” before adding: “But I am not a chef so how can I judge?”
Previous MasterChef Appearance
The criticisms echo those that emerged after Meghan’s appearance on MasterChef Australia earlier this year, when viewers shared divided opinions online over her involvement in the episode, given the guest judge position on the show is usually reserved for high-calibre chefs.
One viewer said: “It makes you feel a bit sorry for the contestants. They’ve gone on that show to learn from industry chefs, which Meghan is not. She’s a home cook, like the competitors are.” Others, however, loved to see the Duchess on the programme, saying her calm energy and encouraging words were a nice change for the usually frantic MasterChef kitchen.
The episode, filmed in April and aired in July, saw contestants challenged to transform a staple ingredient into a dish 'fit for a duchess'. More than 1.5 million people watched the show, breaking the record for the biggest overnight Sunday audience since July 2023 and the biggest-ever overnight streaming audience, according to figures released by broadcaster Network 10.
