Meghan Markle is heading back to Australian television, and it seems not everyone is ready to welcome her into the kitchen for seconds.
After appearing as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia earlier this year, the Duchess of Sussex is set to return to the franchise as a special guest on Junior MasterChef Australia in 2027, joining Poh Ling Yeow to encourage the next generation of young cooks.
While some fans are thrilled to see her return, others aren’t quite as convinced. And one question in particular keeps coming up.
Fans question Meghan’s casting: ‘Why her?’
For some viewers, the decision to bring Meghan back has raised eyebrows, particularly when Australia has no shortage of chefs, cookbook authors and food creators who could inspire the next generation of young cooks.
“Why her? There are so many other deserving chefs out there that actually studied and learned the craft that could be a part of the program,” one viewer wrote.
Others questioned why the network would invite Meghan back after her previous appearance on MasterChef Australia, suggesting a local food personality could have been a better fit.
“Her appearance on the show didn’t really go down that well in Australia. Why would they engage her again? We have so many local chefs and dedicated home cooks who publish or present. Why not RecipeTin Eats? She would be amazing at a children’s cooking show. Why Meghan?”
It’s a fair question for viewers to raise, given the depth of Australia’s food scene. From cookbook authors to home cooks who’ve built huge online followings, there are plenty of familiar faces who could bring their own expertise to a junior cooking competition.
Others questioned whether Meghan would be a natural fit for a children’s program, with one viewer commenting: “It never felt like engagements with kids were her strong suit, so it’ll be interesting to see how this works out”.
But some fans are excited to see Meghan and Poh together
Not everyone is questioning the decision. Plenty of viewers are looking forward to Meghan’s return, particularly with Poh involved.
“Omg!! This will be so much fun. And with Poh, she’s adorable,” one fan wrote.
Another was equally enthusiastic about the prospect of the pair working together, commenting: “Poh and Meghan co-hosting? I think they’ll be fabulous together.”
Meghan has been announced as a special guest rather than a co-host, but the excitement around the pairing is clear.
Some viewers also pointed to her previous MasterChef Australia appearance as a reason to give her another chance.
“Meghan was great on [MasterChef Australia] earlier this year. She seemed knowledgeable about foods and was articulate and gracious while judging the dishes,” one viewer wrote.
Another supporter described the Junior MasterChef role as “the kind of screen time that’s right for her”, adding that it could showcase her personality and food-related interests.
With her Netflix series With Love, Meghan and lifestyle brand As Ever, the Duchess has already explored cooking and entertaining on screen. For these fans, a return to a food-focused program makes sense.
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