In brief
Meghan Markle will co‑host the 2027 season of Junior MasterChef Australia, a move that will attract both fanfare and scrutiny. The announcement follows her guest judging stint on the main MasterChef series last year, and comes as her mother‑in‑law’s father faces child‑sexual‑abuse accusations. While the Duchess speaks publicly of her excitement about cooking with young contestants, the story adds a new layer to the complex media picture surrounding the former royal couple’s public persona. The decision appears to be part of a broader strategy to maintain a media presence in Australia following the Sussexes’ 2024 return to the United Kingdom.
The Duchess of Sussex has been confirmed as a co‑host of the 2027 season of Junior MasterChef Australia, a role she will share with incumbent host Poh Ling Yeow. Channel 10 cited her participation as a “special guest” during public affairs briefings on 27 July.
Meghan first stepped into the Australian culinary arena as a guest judge on the original MasterChef series last year, an appearance that drew a peak viewership since 2023 and added a new dimension to the show’s production team. Her return to the country followed a four‑day tour with Prince Harry in April, during which the announcement of her co‑hosting role was revealed.
Sources confirm that Meghan will not receive compensation for her role on Junior MasterChef, a fact that Channel 10 has not publicly addressed. The Duchess’s statement emphasized her love for cooking with her own children and excitement for watching young chefs innovate in the kitchen, commenting: “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.”
This latest media engagement follows a period of intensified scrutiny over the family, including allegations that Thomas Markle – Meghan’s father – is a child‑sexual‑abuse perpetrator. The Supreme Court of New South Wales denied the allegations, and Meghan’s spokesperson indicated that the duchess broke contact with her father last year after learning he had abused children. Meghan has sharply denounced the claims as “lies” intended to tarnish his reputation.
The co‑hosting arrangement is the latest chapter in a series of media ventures for the Sussexes since their 2024 move from the United Kingdom to the United States. Their past projects have included a high‑profile Oprah Winfrey interview, a Netflix documentary series, and a lifestyle brand, As Ever, which was recently wound down in March after ending its partnership with streaming services.
