Meghan Markle to guest on Junior MasterChef Australia in 2027

Meghan Markle will return to television as a special guest on Junior MasterChef Australia, Paramount Australia and New Zealand announced. The casting decision has drawn sharp criticism from PR experts regarding her execution and public strategy, while her co-star has forcefully defended her participation.

Production Details and Family Travel Plans for 2027

Paramount announced that the Duchess of Sussex will film the series in Australia for a few weeks in 2027, with the program set to premiere that same year. Network 10 confirmed the appointment, stating that Poh Ling Yeow will be joined by Meghan to help guide young culinary talent aged nine to 13. Prince Harry and their children, Archie and Lilibet, will not relocate to Australia for the duration of filming, though it remains unknown if the family will travel for any portion of the trip, Nine.com.au reported. In a press release this week, Meghan called her decision to return to the franchise an easy yes, explaining, 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! Poh Ling Yeow added, I’m thrilled to bits that Junior MasterChef is returning to our screens. People often ask me whether it might come back, so I know the news will be met with plenty of excitement. I had a lovely time filming with Meghan earlier this year, and being reunited will be a real treat. I can’t wait to meet our pint-sized culinary adventurers—I’m expecting plenty of delicious surprises and a little mischief, too.

The upcoming appearance follows Meghan’s guest judging role on MasterChef Australia, which filmed in April and aired in July. That broadcast drew approximately 1,160,000 viewers, marking the program’s largest Sunday audience since 2023, according to Yahoo Lifestyle Australia.

PR Professionals Criticize Meghan's Inauthentic Public Image

The announcement of her return to the franchise prompted criticism from public relations professionals. Brian Glicklich, CEO at Digital Strategy Ltd, told the Daily Express that Meghan struggles with poor execution despite having many ideas to improve her reputation. Glicklich stated that her appearances often appear inauthentic and promotional with an alternative agenda. Sharon Williams, a royal commentator speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle Australia, noted that while the duchess is a polarizing force, her involvement generated significant interest and boosted ratings for the network.

Poh Ling Yeow defended her co-star against what she described as insatiable and horrible haters, praising Meghan’s will of steel in an interview with Pedestrian TV reported by Page Six. Yeow dismissed prior reports from SkyNews over the summer that the two had clashed on set over the use of the term royalty, while also chatting about how their upcoming project is the ultimate clapback and quipping, Eat that, people.

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