MEGHAN WHO?! THE BRUTAL AUSTRALIAN SNUB THAT TOOK AN UNEXPECTED TURN! Meghan Markle May Dominate Royal Headlines, But A Report Claims Some Australians Had “No Idea” Who She Was — And One Person Allegedly Mistook The Duchess Of Sussex For Angela Merkel! For Someone Whose Every Move Attracts Intense Media Attention, The Reported Reaction Delivers A Sharp Reality Check. The Duchess May Be A Familiar Face To Royal Watchers, But The Encounter Described In The Report Suggests Her Fame Does Not Necessarily Translate Into Instant Recognition Everywhere. From Global Headlines To “Who Is She?” — The Reported Mix-up That Put Meghan’s Fame Under The Spotlight.

Meghan Markle is making a monumental return to the screen next year. The Duchess said she “can’t wait to start” as co-host of Junior MasterChef Australia, following her highly praised appearance as a guest judge on the main series last April. It’s thought she will spend weeks in Melbourne for filming in early-to-mid 2027.

But, Australians are divided about her return Down Under. Hundreds have signed a petition against her new TV role, urging producers to select homegrown talent instead, and many were less than impressed when the Express spoke to fans on the streets of Melbourne on Wednesday lunchtime.

“I think it’s a joke. Why do we need her? We have so many Australians that could do that job. I’m not a fan of hers. I think we should get an Australian to do it,” said Rosa, 76.

“I’m not really a fan. I would sign the petition,” added Les Aldridge, 81. Another pensioner out shopping, Selby Witteveen, 77, was equally displeased. She lived in London and Hythe, Kent, until 2020, giving her a close-up view of Harry and Meghan’s engagement, marriage, and decision to step back as working royals.

Selby said: “She thinks she is a chef. Somebody had paid for her to come. She just wants money. She is there only trading on royalty, which she is no longer.”

Meghan has demonstrated her cooking skills in her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. But fans point out there are plenty of talented chefs, especially since the country was awarded its first-ever Michelin stars earlier this month, with 11 restaurants earning the accolade.

Despite the fierce reaction, two younger Aussies didn’t even know who she is. One thought former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was embarking on a surprising career change, while another, who knew of Meghan, had no idea she was on MasterChef or had even visited Australia earlier this year.

27-year-old Bayley, who lives in popular Brit expat suburb St Kilda, thought “it probably should be a chef,” before adding: “But I am not a chef, so how can I judge?”

He said he would not sign the petition, much like an American who gave her name as ‘Meg’. “I guess it’s name recognition. If you are looking to legitimise a cooking show you can find a few chefs from around the world to do that,” the 75-year-old tourist said. “I do not care about her, like most Americans. It’s not in my top 100 issues — whatever she wants to do has zero effect on us.”

Others could see the value of having her on board. Peter Heywood, 39, said: “My thought is it’s a name that grabs people’s attention. There’s more than just a chef’s perspective on food. I would just not care about the petition. There are a lot of people who are celebrities for no good reason. If someone is doing something that’s not appropriate [for their skills], it is not a problem for me.”

And Mark, a Brit on holiday, added: “I think they [Meghan and Harry] should be left alone and she has done well for herself. Let them get on with their lives.”

Royal fans will be watching Melbourne with keen interest in 2027, when Meghan touches down for filming. She and Harry were mobbed by Victorians on their tour earlier this year.

The Duchess of Sussex drew in a huge 1.6million viewers during her guest appearance on MasterChef, the show’s biggest overnight Sunday audience since July 2023, according to figures released by Channel 10.