Meghan Markle joins ‘MasterChef Australia’ for surprise judging role

Duchess appearance comes during first Australia visit since 2018 while filming for new season of cooking show

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is set to make a special appearance on MasterChef Australia, bringing a touch of royal attention to one of the country’s most popular cooking competitions.

Producers confirmed that Meghan will appear as a guest judge during the eighteenth season of the long running culinary series. The show is scheduled to return on April 19 on Network 10 and its streaming platform 10 Streaming in Australia.

 

 

 

 

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During her appearance, the duchess will join the programme’s regular panel of judges, which includes Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and acclaimed chef Jean Christophe Novelli. The episode will also feature contestants presenting dishes for evaluation as part of the competition’s new season challenges.

The announcement described Meghan as a passionate foodie whose global influence brings additional excitement to the famous MasterChef Australia kitchen. The programme has long featured guest judges from the culinary world, and this season will also welcome notable figures including Maggie Beer, Curtis Stone and Rick Stein.

 

 

 

 

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Meghan’s appearance forms part of her broader visit to Australia alongside Prince Harry. The trip marks the duchess’s first time returning to the country since 2018, when she toured the region shortly after her marriage into the British royal family.

During the current visit she is expected to participate in several public engagements and charity appearances. Reports indicate that she will also attend a girls weekend retreat in Sydney, where guests can participate in meet and greet style sessions connected to lifestyle and wellness themes.

Cooking and food culture have been recurring themes in Meghan’s public projects over the years. In 2018 she supported the release of a charity cookbook created with the Hubb Community Kitchen in London, celebrating recipes from women affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Her interest in the culinary world later extended into television. She hosted the lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, in which she prepared meals and shared cooking experiences with friends and mentors. The programme ran for two seasons, offering viewers a glimpse into her personal approach to food and entertaining.

More recently Meghan launched a lifestyle brand titled As Ever, which includes products such as cookie and pancake mixes, honey, fruit spreads and wine. The brand continues her broader focus on domestic lifestyle and hospitality themes.

The guest judging role on MasterChef Australia reflects that long standing interest in food and cooking culture. While the appearance will likely be brief within the competitive format of the show, the involvement of a globally recognised public figure adds an extra layer of attention to the new season.

For fans of the programme, the moment represents a rare crossover between royal celebrity and reality television, with the duchess stepping into the kitchen to help decide which contestants impress the judges with their culinary creations.