Meghan Markle will make her grand debut as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia tonight, and it’s set to be a divisive episode with viewers.
It was first announced in April that the Duchess of Sussex would appear on Channel 10’s cooking show.
A poll of more than 2,200 Yahoo Lifestyle readers found that only 8 per cent were looking forward to her episode, which airs this Sunday night.
Many told us that Meghan had no place on the reality TV program because she isn’t a chef.
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“What were they thinking?” one said to Yahoo Lifestyle.
“Anyone can open a packet of pretzels, place them in another bag, and place a ribbon around the top,” added another.
“What qualifications does MM have to judge? Genuine question,” wrote a third.
Do you have a story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com
People said they would boycott the show for that episode, even though the Duchess has a Netflix cooking show, With Love, Meghan, and her lifestyle brand, As Ever, is all about food.
But even Robert Irwin, beloved by millions in Australia and around the world, copped criticism for appearing on MasterChef this year as a guest judge, since he is not strictly a chef.
Despite having a significant interest in food and being one of Australia’s biggest celebrities, viewers were still not happy seeing him alongside judges Andy Allen, Sofia Levin, Jean-Christophe Novelli, and Poh Ling Yeow.
Robert was teaching the contestants about sustainability and native ingredients.
(MasterChef)
Why do MasterChef viewers hate certain guest judges?
Media commentator Jo Casamento told Yahoo Lifestyle there’s a reason why someone like Robert would rub people up the wrong way on a show like MasterChef.
“The audience is so protective of the show,” the host of the Plus One Podcast and UNSW journalism and social media teacher said.
“It has always been about genuine passion, skill and knowledge – so when people saw a celebrity attached to it, the knee-jerk reaction was ‘what does Robert Irwin know about food? He’s not a chef.'”
Jo Casamento said it’s no surprise that MasterChef viewers can have knee-jerk reactions to certain guest judges.
(Instagram/Jo Casamento)
She said audiences are finely tuned to when a program is attempting a “ratings grab” with a specific celebrity.
Interestingly, though, Jimmy Barnes was an early guest judge on this season, and the Aussie rockstar received nothing but praise on social media.
However, arguably, the 70-year-old hasn’t courted even remotely the same amount of criticism as Meghan.
In the last 10 years, the Duchess of Sussex has copped backlash for the smallest of reasons, so it’s largely unsurprising her involvement in MasterChef would ruffle some feathers.
But Poh leapt to Meghan’s defence earlier this year when the Duchess’ involvement came to light.
“She was so delightful,” she told KIIS FM.
“Nothing but praise for the time that we spent with her.
“Very easy going, good sense of humour, consummate professional. I mean she’s an actor right? So she slid right into that judging role.”
What has Meghan Markle said about her upcoming episode?
Meghan said there were two things that attracted her to the show: her love of food and her love of Australia.
“It was an easy yes,” she said.
“It’s such a great show. I’m just really honoured that I was asked to be able to be here with you and to be able to judge some of these meals.”
It was announced in April she would be appearing on the show. Source: Channel 10
(Channel 10)
The episode will feature Meghan challenging the remaining cooks to create a dish using carrots, brussels sprouts, Australian honey, macadamia nuts, quince, Jerusalem artichokes, celeriac, lemons, apples, mandarins and strawberries.
The ingredients were all about celebrating what was in season during the time of filming.
“I’d love it if there’s a connection that you can find when, as you’re cooking something, what is the story behind it?
“What is something from your family or from a memory…something sentimental that we can also taste as we taste your dish.”
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