Meghan Sussex is heading back Down Under! The Duchess of Sussex is reportedly preparing to return to Australian television in 2027, joining celebrity cook and presenter Poh Ling Yeow for the revival of Junior MasterChef Australia.

The news comes just months after Meghan’s guest appearance on MasterChef Australia, which generated considerable attention and delivered some of the programme’s strongest Sunday viewing figures in years.

According to Australian media reports, filming will take place in Melbourne over several weeks, with Prince Harry and the couple’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, potentially joining Meghan during production. And considering how often the British tabloids have insisted that Meghan is unpopular in Australia, this latest development is rather amusing.

Meghan and Poh Ling Yeow Reunite for Junior MasterChef

Australian entertainment journalist Bronte Coy broke the news for news.com.au on Monday, 26 October, reporting that Meghan had been lined up for the children’s cooking competition.

The children’s cooking competition is expected to return to Network 10 in 2027, seven years after its previous season aired in 2020. According to news.com.au, Meghan is expected to spend several weeks filming in Melbourne alongside Poh Ling Yeow, who already serves as a judge on the main MasterChef Australia programme.

The Telegraph also reports that Meghan will present the series alongside Poh Ling Yeow. However, Network 10 has yet to publicly confirm the details of her role or announce a filming schedule. The precise extent of her presenting duties has not been consistently described.

Meghan previously appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia during the Sussexes’ April visit to the country. Her episode aired in July.

During that appearance, Meghan joined Poh and the other judges, offering advice to contestants and discussing the personal connections people develop through food, so her return makes sense.

Meghan has spent years building a lifestyle brand around cooking, entertaining and hospitality. Between her Netflix series With Love, Meghan and her As Ever products, food has become a substantial part of her professional identity. Now she has an opportunity to bring that enthusiasm to a programme celebrating young people who love cooking.

Harry, Archie and Lilibet Could Join Meghan in Melbourne

One interesting detail is the possibility that Meghan’s television commitment could become a family trip. Speaking about the arrangements, Bronte Coy told Australian morning television that Harry and the children might accompany Meghan.

Coy explained that no final decision had been made, but that the family joining her was a possibility under discussion. Filming is expected to take several weeks, making an extended visit to Australia feasible.

Of course, whether Archie and Lilibet travel will depend on the family’s arrangements, including their schooling. But imagine the Sussex family enjoying several weeks in Australia while Meghan works on a children’s cooking programme. It would certainly be a lovely opportunity for the children to experience more of the country.

But Weren’t We Told Australians Couldn’t Stand Meghan?

This is where the story becomes particularly entertaining. Earlier this year, Harry and Meghan enjoyed a successful visit to Australia, receiving a warm reception during their engagements. That must have been disappointing for sections of the British press that have spent years insisting Meghan is unpopular, difficult to work with and incapable of maintaining professional relationships.

Her MasterChef Australia appearance was equally successful. Network 10 reported that the episode reached 1.6 million viewers, delivered the programme’s largest overnight Sunday audience since July 2023 and attracted a record 118,000 streaming viewers.

Not bad for someone we are constantly told nobody wants to watch. Remember the tabloid stories suggesting Meghan had upset Poh Ling Yeow during filming? Poh subsequently dismissed those claims, describing Meghan as a “model citizen” who was friendly, engaged and knowledgeable about food. She also criticised the relentless media scrutiny surrounding Meghan, saying the experience gave her a glimpse of what the Duchess faces.

Now they are reportedly preparing to work together again. So much for those claims. I think Meghan and Poh will make an excellent team. Meghan’s warmth and encouragement, combined with Poh’s culinary expertise, seem particularly well suited to a competition involving young aspiring chefs.

What makes this development especially satisfying is the contrast between the British press’s predictions and Meghan’s actual opportunities. Harry and Meghan enjoyed their Australian visit, Meghan’s television appearance attracted impressive audiences, and now another invitation has reportedly followed.

For someone whose career is supposedly always on the verge of collapse, Meghan seems to have a remarkable habit of finding more work.

Another Television Opportunity for Meghan

Meghan is no stranger to children’s cooking competitions. In 2016, she appeared as a guest judge on the American programme Chopped Junior, making her reported Junior MasterChef Australia role a return to familiar territory.

If the appointment is confirmed, it will also give Meghan another opportunity to combine her television experience with her interest in food and entertaining.

For now, I’m looking forward to seeing her back in the MasterChef kitchen. And if Harry and the children join her in Melbourne, even better.

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