Meghan Markle Joins Junior MasterChef Australia: What We Know So Far

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is heading back to Australian television. She will join the return of Junior MasterChef Australia, working alongside host Poh Ling Yeow to guide the show’s young cooks.

The announcement came from Paramount Australia on October 26, 2026. The new season is set to air next year on Network 10, with filming planned in Melbourne. It is the first local season of the junior version of the show since 2020.

Here is what is confirmed so far, what is still unclear, and why the news has caught so much attention.

What was announced

Paramount Australia said Meghan and Poh will “help guide the next generation of young culinary talent” on the revived show. Meghan called the offer an easy yes in a statement released with the announcement.

“I had an incredible time with the whole team at MasterChef this past April, so when they approached me to come back and work with this young group of talent, it was an easy yes,” she said. “I love cooking with my own kids, so seeing what these young stars create in the kitchen is going to be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to see what they cook up!”

Poh said she was thrilled to be reunited with Meghan, adding that she could not wait to meet the show’s young cooks and was expecting plenty of tasty surprises.

What is her exact role?

This is the one detail worth reading carefully, because reports have worded it a little differently. Most announcements describe Meghan as joining Poh to host and guide the new season. Some other reports, citing PEOPLE, have described her part as a special guest appearance.

What is not in doubt is the core of the announcement: she is part of the returning show, working with Poh and the young contestants. The exact on-screen title may become clearer closer to filming, so it is best not to treat any single label as final just yet.

When will it film, and where?

Filming is planned in Melbourne, and reports say it will take weeks rather than months. USA Today reported the shoot is expected to take between one and two weeks, while other outlets have simply said she will spend a few weeks in Australia.

No premiere date has been announced yet beyond a 2027 air date. The last season of Junior MasterChef Australia, season 3, aired from October 11 to November 9, 2020 on Network 10.

Is Meghan moving to Australia?

No. Reports are clear on this point: she is travelling to Australia for the show, not relocating there. She and Prince Harry moved back to Britain in August, and reports say there are no plans for the family to relocate to Australia.

Whether Prince Harry and their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, will visit during filming has not been confirmed. Some reports say they may join her for part of the stay, while others say no decision has been made. For now, that part is unconfirmed.

Why this show, and why now?

The move follows Meghan’s guest appearance on the main MasterChef Australia series earlier this year. She appeared during the Sussexes’ four-day trip to Australia in April 2026, and the episode aired in July. Paramount said that appearance drew the show’s largest Sunday audience since 2023, excluding launch and finale episodes.

It also fits with the work she has done in recent years. She starred in two seasons of her Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, and she appeared on Chopped Junior back in 2016. Cooking with children is familiar ground for her, and she has said herself that cooking with her own kids is part of what drew her to the role.

What is Junior MasterChef Australia?

Junior MasterChef Australia is the junior spin-off of MasterChef Australia. It features young aspiring chefs, generally aged 8 to 13, who take on cooking challenges and show off their skills in the kitchen.

The show has been off the air since the end of 2020, so its return is a revival rather than a brand-new format. Poh, who became a judge on the main MasterChef Australia series in 2024, will be a familiar face to Australian viewers, and she is also set to return to the main show’s judging panel in 2027.

What to watch for next

The next confirmed details to look out for are a filming start date, a premiere date, and the full judging and hosting lineup. Until those are announced, the confirmed facts are simple: the show is coming back in 2027, it will film in Melbourne, and Meghan will be part of it alongside Poh.

Frequently asked questions

Is Meghan Markle hosting Junior MasterChef Australia?

She has been announced as joining the show alongside Poh Ling Yeow to guide the young cooks. Reports differ slightly on whether to call the role co-host or special guest, so the safest description for now is that she is part of the returning show with Poh.

When does Junior MasterChef Australia return?

The new season is set to air in 2027 on Network 10. No exact premiere date has been announced yet.

Where will it be filmed?

Filming is planned in Melbourne, Australia, and is expected to take a few weeks.

Is Meghan Markle moving to Australia?

No. Reports say she is travelling to Australia for filming only, with no plans to relocate there.

Has Meghan been on MasterChef Australia before?

Yes. She appeared as a guest on the main MasterChef Australia series in April 2026, and that episode aired in July 2026.