The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is set to make a return to British television on October 19, when a special episode of MasterChef Australia featuring her as a guest judge airs in the UK.
However, the appearance is unlikely to be the high-profile comeback some had anticipated. Rather than appearing on a major broadcaster or one of the leading global streaming platforms, the programme will be shown on U&W, available on Freeview Channel 25 and through the U streaming service.
The episode offers British viewers an opportunity to see Meghan on television again after an extended absence from UK screens.
U&W Hopes Duchess’s Appearance Will Attract Viewers
The episode will join the channel’s existing schedule, which includes repeats of older television programmes such as the police drama The Bill, alongside 999 Rescue Squad and Inside The Operating Theatre.
A television insider suggested that Meghan’s appearance could help UKTV attract additional viewers, although the source questioned whether the broadcast would match the scale of the return previously discussed in media reports.
The insider also noted that the duchess remains a divisive public figure in Britain, making the response to her television appearance a point of interest for broadcasters.
Reports of Meghan’s Possible Netflix Drama Role
The announcement comes after speculation that Meghan had been in discussions with producers of The Gentlemen, the popular Netflix series.
Reports had linked the possibility of a role in the programme to Meghan and Prince Harry’s return to Britain. However, subsequent accounts indicated that her contact with the show‘s team had amounted to little more than an initial meeting.
Her appearance on MasterChef Australia is therefore a separate television engagement rather than confirmation of a role in the Netflix drama.
Meghan Filmed the Cooking Competition During Australian Tour
Meghan recorded the special episode in April while accompanying Prince Harry on a four-day visit to Australia.
For the programme, contestants were challenged to prepare a dish considered suitable for a duchess, using a selection of Meghan’s favourite seasonal ingredients.
She appeared alongside the show’s regular judges, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli. During filming, Meghan reportedly requested that she be addressed simply as Meghan rather than by her royal title.
The episode also included a video call from Prince Harry. According to reports surrounding the production, he was apparently unaware that Meghan was filming the programme, while cameras captured the interaction for broadcast.
The special was first shown on Australia’s Network 10 in July before its scheduled UK transmission later this month.
Cooking Remains Part of Meghan’s Television Career
The guest judging appearance follows Meghan’s own Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, which focused on cooking, entertaining and domestic life.
Although the programme ran for two series, reported Netflix viewing figures indicated that it did not rank among the platform’s 300 most-watched titles.
Her appearance on MasterChef Australia provides another opportunity for Meghan to connect with audiences through her interest in food and cooking, this time through a competition format rather than her own lifestyle series.
UK Broadcast Offers a Different Kind of Return
Meghan’s October 19 appearance will bring her back to British television, but the scale of the broadcast differs from the major streaming or terrestrial television comeback that had been speculated about.
U&W’s decision to schedule the episode gives the channel an opportunity to attract viewers interested in the duchess, while the reaction from British audiences remains uncertain.
For viewers wishing to watch, the programme will be available on Freeview Channel 25 or through U, UKTV’s streaming service.
