Celebrity MasterChef Ireland launched on TV3 in July 2013, bringing eight well-known Irish faces — from comedians to newscasters — into the kitchen to compete for the inaugural title. Here’s everything confirmed about the show’s very first champion, judges and contestants.
Celebrity MasterChef Ireland Season 1: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Network | TV3 (Ireland) |
| Premiere | 14 July 2013 |
| Finale | 18 August 2013 |
| Episodes | 6 |
| Contestants | 8 Irish celebrities |
| Winner | David Gillick |
| Judges | Dylan McGrath, Nick Munier |
Who Won Celebrity MasterChef Ireland Season 1?
David Gillick, the former Irish Olympic athlete and national 400m record holder, was crowned the very first Celebrity MasterChef Ireland champion on 18 August 2013. He triumphed over a competitive final-three lineup to claim the title, continuing a strong trend across the global MasterChef franchise of athletes translating their competitive discipline into kitchen success.
Season 1 Celebrity Lineup
Eight well-known Irish personalities entered the competition, representing a genuinely diverse mix of backgrounds:
| Celebrity | Known For |
|---|---|
| David Gillick | Olympic athlete (Winner) |
| Gary Cooke | Comedian |
| Kamal Ibrahim | TV presenter |
| Tracy Piggott | Sports presenter |
| Conor Pope | Irish Times journalist |
| Yvonne Keating | Former model |
| Maia Dunphy | Writer and broadcaster |
| Aengus Mac Grianna | RTÉ newscaster |
The season followed a classic elimination format — contestants were gradually cut one by one across the first five episodes, narrowing the field down to a final three who competed head-to-head in the Episode 6 grand finale.
The Judges
- Dylan McGrath — acclaimed Irish chef and restaurateur, known for his exacting culinary standards
- Nick Munier — restaurateur and TV personality, Dylan McGrath’s regular judging partner across the franchise
This judging duo became the defining pairing of the Irish MasterChef franchise, continuing to judge subsequent celebrity seasons as well.
How Celebrity MasterChef Ireland Differs from the Main Show
Celebrity MasterChef Ireland followed the same broad structure as MasterChef Ireland’s regular amateur seasons — heats, pressure tests, and professional kitchen challenges — but condensed into a shorter six-episode run with a smaller cast of eight celebrities rather than amateur home cooks.
What Came After Season 1?
The celebrity format continued to return to Irish screens in the years that followed:
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Niamh Kavanagh (singer, Eurovision winner) |
Niamh Kavanagh’s win in 2017 was especially celebrated by Irish audiences, given her existing fame as Ireland’s 1993 Eurovision Song Contest champion.
MasterChef Ireland: The Regular Series for Comparison
For context, the standard (non-celebrity) MasterChef Ireland series ran for several seasons as well, with these champions:
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1 (2011) | Mary Carney, a business manager from Waterford |
| 2 (2012) | Tamarin Blackmur, a PMO Coordinator from Dublin |
| (Later season) | Diana Dodog, a waitress from Courtmacsherry |
FAQs
Who won Celebrity MasterChef Ireland Season 1? David Gillick, the former Olympic athlete, won in August 2013.
Who were the judges of Celebrity MasterChef Ireland? Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier judged the season.
How many celebrities competed in Season 1? Eight well-known Irish personalities, including comedians, journalists, and broadcasters.
Which network aired Celebrity MasterChef Ireland? TV3 (Ireland).
Has Celebrity MasterChef Ireland had more than one season? Yes — it returned in 2017, won by singer and Eurovision champion Niamh Kavanagh.