Verdict is in on Meghan Markle as TV appearance breaks ratings record
Verdict is in on Meghan Markle as TV appearance breaks ratings record
Sophia Papamavroudi & Tatiana KrisztinaTue, July 28, 2026 at 2:57 PM UTC
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Meghan Markle appeared on an episode of Masterchef Australia -Credit:Channel 10
Meghan Markle's appearance on MasterChef Australia has shattered records just as insiders close to her have refuted claims of any behind-the-scenes tension during filming.
The Duchess of Sussex took on the role of guest judge for the cooking competition's 18th season on Sunday, with hopeful chefs tasked with elevating an everyday ingredient into a creation "fit for a duchess." She joined MasterChef Australia judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli on the panel.
Meghan's appearance on the cooking show left the contestants "frazzled" and "blushing," but it wasn't clear in the moment how the audience took the duchess' appearance.
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Now, viewing figures for the latest installment have now been unveiled, and the numbers speak volumes. Sunday's MasterChef Australia episode pulled in a massive 1.6 million total TV viewers.
The show smashed records for the largest overnight Sunday audience since July 2023 and achieved the highest-ever overnight streaming audience, drawing 118,000 viewers, based on data released by broadcaster Network 10. The episode also dominated the seven-day Total Viewing rankings with 1.22 million viewers nationwide, reports the Express.
Meghan Markle's episode broke records -Credit:FABRICE COFFRINI, AFP via Getty Images
Meghan's episode delivered a 16% boost in its national Total TV audience when compared to the corresponding episode from the previous year.
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Total TV is a unique measurement tool employed in Australia to track viewership across multiple platforms, combining conventional linear broadcast television with digital broadcast video-on-demand (BVOD) consumption.
Channel Seven's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow led the pack with 2.5 million total TV viewers, while Channel Nine's Lego Masters attracted 1.7 million viewers.
The ratings success arrives despite negative press surrounding the duchess's time on set. Recent reports suggested the Duchess was at the center of a tense exchange with Ms Yeow after being introduced as "royalty" at the start of the episode.
Meghan was allegedly a delight to have on the show -Credit:Sunrise/Youtube
Meanwhile, another account by celebrity journalist Rob Shuter alleged that production insiders described Meghan's appearance as leaving the cast and crew "exhausted."
They characterized the duchess as "one of the most demanding celebrity guests the long-running series has ever hosted."
However, sources close to the Duchess have rejected the allegations, branding them as "false," and told the Daily Express that Meghan had an "incredible" experience with everyone involved, including the judges, contestants and crew. They emphasized that there were "no issues".
They also pushed back against the recent reports, insisting that "everything was so positive." It is understood that Network 10 has been delighted with Meghan's appearance.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
