RTÉ Today’s TV Home Cook: Finalists Head to Head in Epic Cook-Off
- RTÉ has announced the two finalists for the 2026 edition of Today's TV Home Cook.
- The competition serves as a nationwide search to identify a standout home cook in Ireland.
- These contestants spent several weeks completing a series of cooking challenges while working in a professional television kitchen for the first time.
RTÉ has announced the two finalists for the 2026 edition of Today’s TV Home Cook. Dee Freney of Mayo and Margaret Leahy of Galway will compete in the live grand final scheduled for May 25, 2026.
The competition serves as a nationwide search to identify a standout home cook in Ireland. The process began with eight contestants who were selected and mentored by chef Trisha Lewis.
These contestants spent several weeks completing a series of cooking challenges while working in a professional television kitchen for the first time. The group was eventually reduced to four semi-finalists who competed in a live semi-final cook-off to determine the top two competitors.
Meet the Finalists
Dee Freney is an adult educator from Mayo. Her culinary expertise focuses on creative gluten-free home cooking, with an emphasis on creating comforting and flavorful meals that ensure everyone at the table feels included.
Throughout the competition, Freney has showcased her skills in baking and roasting, which are noted as family favorites. Her initial entry into the competition featured chocolate brownies served with raspberry coulis, and she progressed to the final after preparing gluten-free hot honey salmon with garlic tenderstem for the semi-final.
Margaret Leahy is a tour operator based in Connemara. She practices a farm-to-table approach to cooking, utilizing seasonal Irish produce sourced from local suppliers and her own garden.
Leahy’s cooking style prioritizes simplicity, aiming to let the natural quality of the ingredients stand out. Her work focuses on the celebration of Irish food traditions and the use of seasonal produce.
Grand Final and Voting Process
The live grand final takes place on May 25, 2026, where Freney and Leahy will prepare their final dishes. A distinguishing feature of Today’s TV Home Cook is the absence of professional judges; the outcome of the competition is decided entirely by the public.
Public voting is scheduled to open on the afternoon of May 25, 2026. Viewers are invited to cast their votes to determine which of the two finalists will win the title.
The winner of Today’s TV Home Cook 2026 will be officially announced on May 26, 2026, during a broadcast featuring mentor and chef Trisha Lewis.