MasterChef Australia fans and Australians alike were surprised to hear that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, will be a guest judge on this season of the hit reality cooking show. While there was a mixed reaction to her involvement, there was also a lot of questions around how Meghan Markle made her appearance work amidst her busy schedule in Australia and how it will all worked, since many thought the show had wrapped filming.
A Channel 10 spokesperson said that “MasterChef Australia is currently in production and this week’s very special episode featuring Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was filmed as part of the regular schedule and featured Season 18 contestants.”
MasterChef Australia is set to air this Sunday, April 19, with a batch of 40 contestants vying for a spot in the top 24.
With celebrity cameos and surprise challenges on the horizon, MasterChef Australia have certainly pulled out all the stops this year!
When did Meghan Markle film for MasterChef 2026?
On Wednesday, April 15, Prince Harry headed to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and Meghan Markle stopped by the MasterChef kitchen in Melbourne to film a celebrity judge appearance on the show.
Described by Channel 10 as a “passionate foodie with global influence”, the broadcaster revealed more details about her role as a guest judge on the show – likening her involvement to other celebrity cameos like Robert Irwin and Jimmy Barnes.
In an interview with MasterChef Australia judges Sofia Levin and Poh Ling Yeow, the judges explained that the Duchess of Sussex was “quite clear at wanting to get to know the contestants better.”
Meghan Markle spent her guest judging spot on the show asking to see the “stories” of the contestants and requested food that “[showed] their personalities.”
As someone with her own food TV show, Poh and Sofia stressed that Meghan was very apt and ready for her celebrity appearance, leaving the remaining contestants who met the star “joyous” and unable to “keep their composure.”
“They were in total shock. Everyone’s jaws were on the ground,” Poh said to 10 News.
Haven’t they finished filming MasterChef Australia 2026?
No, they haven’t finished filming MasterChef Australia for 2026.
A Channel 10 spokesperson said that “MasterChef Australia is currently in production”, despite the show airing this Sunday.
When asked when Meghan’s episode will air, the spokesperson told WHO that “the episode airs later this season”.
Who was there and who was missing from Meghan Markle’s guest appearance?
Meghan Markle appears as a guest judge during what we can assume is the final stages of the MasterChef Australia season this year, most likely with contestants in the final stages of the competition.
Judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli were present as judges along aside her.
MasterChef Australia alumni Andy Allen was not present for the celebrity appearance.
The chef, who recently spoke to WHO about this upcoming season, was away on paternity leave but sent a “good luck, go smash it!” text to the other judges before the Duchess of Sussex’s arrival.
Why is Meghan Markle in Australia?
Meghan Markle’s appearance on MasterChef Australia marks one stop of many in her and Prince Harry’s royal tour down under.
The couple are visiting Australia for four days, arriving on Tuesday, April 14 .
Their visit will include travelling to Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney.
Their visit marks the couple’s first Australian tour in eight years, with their last trip down under taking place in 2018.
Their agenda includes a mix of charity, public service, and commercial events, visiting the Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital, the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum, the Australian War Memorial, the Invictus Australia reception, and as of yesterday, the Melbourne MasterChef Australia kitchen.
Meghan Markle is also making a guest appearance at a luxury women’s retreat in Sydney, with tickets being sold at $2,699.
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