‘She’s an actor’: Poh Ling Yeow on what it was really like working with Meghan Markle on MasterChef
The beloved chef and television personality, 52, sat down with KIIS FM’s Georgie Tunny to reflect on the Duchess of Sussex’s recent guest appearance on theChannel Ten series, sharing what the royal was like in person.
“There is so much public conjecture, but she was absolutely delightful. [I have] nothing but praise for the time I spent with her,” Poh said. “Very easy-going, good sense of humour, a consummate professional. I mean, she’s an actor, so she just slid right into that judging role seamlessly.”
Poh described Meghan as grounded, quick to laugh, and immediately at ease with everyone on set. The MasterChef judge also expressed empathy for the scrutiny Meghan continues to face in the public eye.
“I really feel for her because she’s still a human. There’s an emotional human at the end of that, amid all this hatred people are spitting out. She was honestly so lovely,” Poh added.
The sentiment was echoed by her fellow judges. Poh, alongside Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli, described Meghan’s arrival on set as nothing short of electric.“Having Meghan in the MasterChef kitchen with us was such a treat,” the trio said in a joint statement. “She was a complete delight and was right at home. Introducing her to the contestants was like the best kind of surprise party – jaws were on the floor!”They went on to praise the Duchess’s curiosity and culinary enthusiasm.
“She put us all at ease very quickly, learning about our home cooks through their food, and happily sharing her passion and knowledge for produce, cooking and entertaining with us all. We’d have her back in a heartbeat.”
Markle, 44, filmed her appearance in Melbourne last Wednesday, reportedly spending the full day on set. Network 10 has since confirmed she will feature as a guest judge in an upcoming episode of the new season.
Despite early speculation that Meghan may have commanded a fee of up to AU$380,000 for the appearance, it has since been reported that she was not paid at all.
Former television executive Rob McKnight pushed back on the six-figure rumour, suggesting that while a fee of $10,000 to $50,000 would have been reasonable to request, the appearance was more likely a savvy piece of mutual publicity.
“I think it is a brilliant PR move by Network 10, which is probably worth the least amount of money of the major networks,” Rob said. “It has shown Ten is the little engine that could.”
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“Producers stepped in several times.”
Was it a recipe for television magic or a disaster in the making? The Duchess of Sussex’s long-awaited MasterChef Australia episode finally airs Sunday, July 26. But while things look picture-perfect on-screen, sources claim tensions were simmering beneath the surface.
According to New Idea’s insiders, the dynamics on set didn’t always match what viewers will see in the final edit. Several of the contestants frequently gravitated towards judge Poh Ling Yeow for reassurance and feedback, rather than focusing solely on Meghan as the headline guest, claims one show spy.
“It was a bit awkward at times. You could tell Meghan was wondering what was going on,” the source insists. A second insider adds that there was an early expectation that Meghan would be the central focus of the day, but the reality on set was more “uneven”.
“Producers reportedly stepped in several times to keep filming on track,” says the source. “After all, Meghan is one of the biggest international guests the show has ever secured, so it was important she be a key part of the episode.”
But perhaps the most uncomfortable moment allegedly came after the cameras stopped rolling, when promotional material touting Meghan’s upcoming appearance saw Poh introducing her as “royalty”.
News.com.au claimed Meghan and her team were “frustrated” at the duchess being referred to by the term, having specifically told everyone at MasterChef not to use it.
Meghan and her team were reportedly outside the studio when the introduction happened, so they didn’t know what had been said until the adverts aired. Naturally, Poh was upset at accidentally going against Meghan’s wishes.
“It wasn’t about Meghan personally,” says our source. “Poh felt she had been unintentionally drawn into a royal protocol issue she never intended to be part of.”
According to a separate source, Poh, 52, apparently wanted to personally reach out to Meghan, 44, to apologise.
“She was willing to reach out immediately,” the insider says. “But she was advised to leave it for production to handle.”
Meghan’s interactions with Poh and her fellow judges, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli, were apparently carefully choreographed. Andy Allen was not present due to the impending birth of his son, Jude.
“Production was keen to make sure all the key moments landed, so there was a bit of guidance behind the scenes to keep things flowing,” says the source.
However, another source adds: “There was no tension whatsoever, but it did feel like everyone was working hard to create those picture-perfect TV moments.
“That’s just the nature of a big production when you’ve got such a high-profile guest.”
A different insider shared a lighter observation about Poh’s personality on set.
“Poh is full of energy – she’s always joking and lifting the mood. She tried to bring that same spark with Meghan, cracking a few playful lines, but not all of it landed as intended.
“Some of those moments didn’t quite translate on camera, so they ended up on the cutting-room floor. It’s just her way of keeping things light, even when the pressure is on.”
Despite the awkward moments and behind-the-scenes pressure, sources insist there was no major conflict, describing the day as a typical high-stakes television production.
“It wasn’t major drama, just a few awkward moments during filming that were adjusted in the final edit,” the insider says. “Meghan was a great guest, and we feel very lucky she agreed to appear on the show.”