Meghan Markle‘s guest appearance on MasterChef Australia has reportedly delivered record-breaking ratings. The new audience figures paint a very different picture from recent reports of on-set tensions. The Duchess of Sussex’s episode drew one of the cooking competition’s biggest audiences in recent years. At the same time, the sources close to Meghan dismissed claims that her time on set was anything but positive.
Meghan Markle’s MasterChef Australia reportedly hits a new record amid backlash
Meghan appeared as a guest judge during Sunday’s episode of MasterChef Australia Season 18, joining regular judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli for a challenge focused on creating a dish “fit for a duchess.”
According to viewing figures released by broadcaster Network 10, the episode reached 1.6 million Total TV viewers across Australia. The episode delivered the show’s largest overnight Sunday audience since July 2023 and set a streaming record with 118,000 viewers.
The episode also topped the seven-day Total Viewing rankings with 1.22 million viewers nationwide. Compared with the equivalent episode last year, Meghan’s appearance reportedly boosted the program’s national Total TV audience by 16%, according to Express.
In Australia, Total TV combines traditional television broadcasts with Broadcast Video-on-Demand (BVOD) viewing across digital platforms, providing a broader measure of audience reach. The strong audience numbers arrived as Meghan faced renewed speculation over her experience filming the episode.
Recent reports alleged the Duchess was involved in an awkward moment with judge Poh Ling Yeow after being introduced as “royalty” during the program.
Celebrity journalist Rob Shuter reported claims from unnamed production insiders who described Meghan as one of the most demanding celebrity guests the long-running series had hosted. Those reports also alleged her appearance left members of the cast and crew feeling “exhausted.”
A source familiar with the production told RadarOnline, “There was a sense she was trying to embody the role of a culinary authority rather than simply a guest.”
