Robert Irwin was paid a whopping fee to appear on MasterChef Australia as a guest judge this week, according to insiders.
The 22-year-old’s cameo on the Channel 10 cooking competition aired on Wednesday and saw the wildlife expert judge the final episode of season 18’s Aussie Classics Week.
The Dancing With The Stars winner, who has recently been announced as the new host of the Logies, challenged chefs to create a dish using native Australian ingredients, such as lilly pillies, finger limes and Davidson plums.
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According to an insider, Network 10 offered Irwin a sizeable pay packet in order to keep hold of the in-demand star following the axe of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
“They did a deal for him to do a MasterChef appearance to keep him at 10,” the source told Woman’s Day.
It is said that Irwin took home a fee between $50,000 to $75,000.
Meanwhile, Meghan Markle was paid “much less” for her MasterChef appearance, which she filmed during the Sussexes’ four-day Australia trip in April, the insider said.
Despite it originally being reported that Meghan, 44, was paid a six-figure sum for the brief appearance, insiders have said she received no payment for the day of filming and Network 10 made a “charity donation” instead.
The source claimed this was so “Meghan and Harry didn’t look like they were personally profiting from the show”.
Meghan’s appearance alongside judges Poh Ling Yeow, Jean-Christophe Novelli and Sofia Levin is scheduled to air later in the series.
The episode will see the As Ever founder challenge contestants to create dishes inspired by their cultural backgrounds and personal stories.
In a teaser clip shared to MasterChef Australia’s Instagram page, the duchess was described as a “passionate foodie” who would “help guide some of the most impressive home cooks the competition has ever seen”.
“We’ve had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before, but no one like this,” Ling Yeow said in the clip.
“All the way from sunny California… the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle!”
The duchess’ upcoming appearance has divided viewers, with some questioning why the With Love, Meghan host was qualified to judge the chefs.
“Are we serious…she’s a home cook,” one person fumed on social media.
Meanwhile, many others were excited to see Meghan on the set, including a fan who gushed: “Love Meghan! She looks stunning!”
Representatives for Network 10 declined to comment when contacted by Sky News Australia.