Meghan Markle returns to Australia as Junior MasterChef guest judge

Meghan Markle is set to return to Australian television, joining Junior MasterChef as a special guest judge when the show comes back in 2027, according to an announcement from Channel 10 and the Duchess of Sussex. The series is returning after a six-year break. The network says Markle will appear alongside host Poh Ling Yeow, helping guide a new group of young cooks. Markle said she had enjoyed her previous visit to the MasterChef kitchen and readily agreed when producers asked her to work with the junior contestants. “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,” Markle said, adding that she was looking forward to seeing what they would make. She had appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia earlier this year, while she and Prince Harry were visiting the country for public engagements. Ling Yeow said she was delighted that Junior MasterChef is returning and recalled enjoying filming with Markle. She said the reunion would be a treat and that she was expecting delicious surprises, along with some mischief from the young cooks. The announcement also arrives as Ling Yeow prepares to host the next season of MasterChef Australia with Andy Allen, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli. Markle’s earlier appearance prompted a lively response online, with some viewers saying they had enjoyed seeing her on the programme and that the episode had changed their previous impressions of her. The new Junior MasterChef series is expected to bring Markle back into the kitchen with Ling Yeow and the contestants. The network’s announcement frames her role as a one-off guest appearance focused on encouraging the next generation of culinary talent; further details about filming and the junior competitors have not yet been provided in the report.