Meghan Markle tipped for Junior MasterChef TV comeback as father's child abuse scandal deepens
The Duchess of Sussex is reportedly preparing for a new presenting role in Australia in 2027, amid renewed scrutiny of her estranged father Thomas Markle and allegations involving child sexual abuse material.
Meghan Markle could be heading back to Australia for another television appearance – with the Duchess of Sussex reportedly lined up to help host the next series of Junior MasterChef.
The 45-year-old former actress, who has relocated from California to Britain with Prince Harry, 42, and their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, has been linked to the Australian cooking competition’s planned 2027 series.
According to news.com.au, a source close to the production claimed Meghan is expected to appear on the programme, which is being developed in Melbourne.
Filming is expected to take several weeks, raising the possibility Harry and Meghan’s children could accompany her.
The reported plan would mark another step in Meghan’s return to television following her departure from royal duties and her growing involvement in lifestyle and entertainment projects.
Meghan, who became internationally known for playing paralegal Rachel Zane in the American legal drama Suits, has already been linked to the Australian MasterChef franchise.
Earlier this year, she made a guest appearance on MasterChef Australia, stepping away from the Sussexes’ four-day visit in April to take part in filming.
She was described as “a passionate foodie with global influence” when her appearance as a guest judge was announced.
Her reported involvement in Junior MasterChef would see her working with a younger generation of aspiring cooks, although the precise nature of her presenting duties has not been publicly established.
One insider has previously suggested Harry and the children could join Meghan in Australia if filming goes ahead, although there has been no official confirmation of the family's travel arrangements.
The reports follow Meghan’s efforts to establish herself in the lifestyle industry through her Netflix series With Love, Meghan and her As Ever brand, which has included food and entertaining products.
The Netflix programme has featured Meghan preparing meals, hosting guests and sharing advice on cooking and entertaining – subjects that have become central to her public career since she and Harry stepped back as working members of the royal family in 2020.
Her television ambitions have also attracted speculation about a possible return to acting.
Over the summer, Meghan was linked to a potential appearance in The Gentlemen, the Netflix crime drama created by Guy Ritchie, 58.
The reports prompted claims the proposed casting was a publicity stunt intended to generate attention for the programme’s latest series.
Meghan has not taken a scripted acting role since leaving Suits in 2017, shortly before her engagement to Harry was announced.
During her time on the legal drama, she appeared alongside Gabriel Macht, 54, and Patrick J Adams, 45, playing Rachel across seven seasons of the programme.
Despite continuing to work in television production, Meghan previously indicated she did not intend to resume her acting career.
In a 2022 interview with Variety, she said: “I’m done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not.”
The reported television opportunity comes amid renewed scrutiny of Meghan’s relationship with her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, 82, who is facing allegations concerning child sexual abuse material at his former home in the Philippines.
According to The Sun, Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, 60, alleged he discovered images and videos of child sexual abuse among belongings left at the property in Cebu.
