Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is preparing for a return to television as a co-host of Junior MasterChef Australia, a development that follows her successful appearance on the adult version of the culinary competition earlier this year. The broadcaster has confirmed that Meghan will join current judge Poh Ling Yeow for the 2027 season of the show, which features contestants between the ages of nine and 13.
The announcement comes after Meghan’s guest appearance on MasterChef Australia in July. That appearance, filmed during a four-day visit to Australia with Prince Harry in April, became a major success for Network 10, drawing the network’s largest Sunday audience since 2023. Production for the upcoming junior series is slated to take place at the Melbourne Showgrounds, though a specific start date for filming has not yet been established.
In a statement regarding her new role, the Duchess expressed enthusiasm for working with younger contestants. “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 said. Meghan also noted a personal connection to the format, adding, “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.”
Poh Ling Yeow, who will continue to judge the adult iteration of the competition alongside the 2027 junior season, welcomed the partnership. She noted that she enjoyed her previous time filming with the Duchess and looked forward to being reunited for the new project.
This professional development occurs against the backdrop of significant changes in the lives of the Sussex family. In August, Meghan and Prince Harry relocated their household from California to the United Kingdom, settling in the Cotswolds after living in the United States for six years. The transition has not been without challenges; in September, the family condemned what they described as a “reckless intrusion” by photographers outside the school of their children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet. Following the incident, the children were moved to a different school.
Beyond the kitchen, Meghan’s media career has seen mixed results. Her lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, which aired for two seasons on Netflix, is reportedly not returning for a third. Despite the show garnering 5.3 million global views in the first half of 2025, reports suggest the partnership will not extend to a new season.
Simultaneous with the television news, the Duchess has been managing distressing developments involving her estranged family. This week, it was revealed that Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., reported their father, Thomas Markle Sr., to authorities in the Philippines. The report alleged the discovery of child sexual abuse images at a former residence. A taskforce focused on human trafficking and child sexual exploitation in Cebu is currently investigating the matter.
Thomas Markle Sr. has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “sick” and “a bunch of lies.” He stated that the computers in question had not been in his possession since he departed Mexico in 2025. For her part, the Duchess of Sussex released a statement through a spokesperson expressing deep distress over the reports and noting that her thoughts are with any potential victims. The statement also revealed that the Metropolitan Police had previously informed her of “disturbing allegations” regarding her father as early as 2019.
As the 2027 production approaches, it remains unclear whether the filming schedule in Melbourne will require a temporary relocation for the Sussex family or if Meghan will travel independently for the duration of the series.
