EXCLUSIVE: Meghan’s last appearance on MasterChef Australia drew praise from fans, but it seems foodies Down Under are more divided on her new gig
Australians are divided over the prospect of Meghan Markle returning Down Under, with hundreds signing a petition against her new TV role, questioning why producers have not selected homegrown talent.
The petition was launched the same day the Duchess of Sussex was confirmed as a co-host of Junior MasterChef Australia. It’s thought Meghan will spend weeks in Melbourne for filming in early-to-mid 2027.
The Duchess, who said she “can’t wait to start,” last visited Australia in April, when she took time out of their tour to appear as a guest judge on the main MasterChef Australia series.
Her appearance drew praise from fans, who highlighted her chemistry with co-host, chef Poh Ling Yeow. But not everyone is a fan of Meghan’s return to the screen. When The Express spoke to fans on the streets of Melbourne on Wednesday lunchtime, many asked the same question: ‘Why her?’
“I’m not really a fan. I would sign the petition,” said Les Aldridge, 81. He was sitting a few metres from another pensioner out shopping, 77-year-old Selby Witteveen. Until 2020, she lived in London and Hythe, in Kent, giving her a close-up view of Harry and Meghan’s engagement, marriage, and decision to step back as working royals.
Selby said: “I hate her. 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.”
Rosa, 76, added: “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.”
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’ – “it’s my middle name”, she explained.
“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.”
Australia is not short of talented chefs at the moment, as the country was awarded its first-ever Michelin stars earlier this month. Inspectors awarded 10 restaurants one star, and one eatery two stars, all in South Australia.
While her new gig has drawn strong reactions from some, plenty were nonplussed about Meghan’s move down under — with younger Aussies unaware of who she was. One thought former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was about to have a surprising career change.
However, 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 delivered a staggering 1.6 million viewers during her guest appearance on MasterChef, according to figures released by Channel 10.
The episode recorded the show’s biggest overnight Sunday audience since July 2023 and also set a new record for MasterChef Australia’s largest-ever overnight streaming audience, attracting 118,000 viewers.