Meghan Markle Returns to Australian TV for 2027 Junior MasterChef Co-Hosting Role

Channel 10 has formally confirmed that Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will serve as a co-host for the 2027 season of Junior MasterChef Australia. She will work alongside the program's regular host, Poh Ling Yeow, in a role described by the network as a special guest engagement. This appointment marks a return to Australian television for the duchess, building on her earlier presence in the country.

The decision to bring Meghan back follows the strong performance of her previous appearance on the main MasterChef Australia series last year. Paramount ANZ reported that the episode featuring her as a guest judge attracted the show's largest Sunday audience since 2023. The network has not yet clarified whether Meghan will receive compensation for the new co-hosting role. While it is understood she was unpaid for her prior judging stint, the broadcaster did not respond to specific inquiries about her pay structure for the junior edition.

Meghan expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming season in a statement. She noted that she enjoys cooking with her children and anticipated that watching young chefs in the kitchen would be enjoyable. The announcement comes during a period of heightened public attention on her personal life, particularly regarding allegations against her father, Thomas Markle. Markle has denied claims of child sexual abuse, stating they are lies intended to damage his reputation. Reports indicate Meghan severed contact with him last year after informing him that she and authorities were aware of the situation.

Her renewed connection to Australia dates back to a four-day tour she and Prince Harry completed in April. During that trip, her initial MasterChef debut was revealed on a Wednesday, a day when she had been notably absent from other public engagements. Filming for that episode had occurred that same evening. The timing of the announcement aligns with recent shifts in the couple's residence and career trajectory. In August, Meghan and Harry announced their decision to move back to the United Kingdom from California, where they had settled after stepping back from royal duties in early 2020.

Since leaving the royal family, the couple has pursued various media ventures. These include a high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey and deals with streaming and audio platforms such as Netflix and Spotify. Meghan also launched a lifestyle brand called As Ever, which included a food range, though it ended its partnership with Netflix in March. Her Netflix cooking show, With Love, Meghan, ran for two series and a Christmas special but did not achieve strong audience numbers. Additionally, Meghan’s trademark was registered in Australia last year across more than a dozen product categories, including cookware and table linen, indicating a continued commercial interest in the lifestyle sector.