Community-powered cooking series launches from County Derry school kitchen

A home economics classroom at St Pius X College in Magherafelt has become the unexpected set of Northern Ireland’s latest food series, Local Chef Showdown – a bold, community-led production putting local talent, producers, and creativity centre stage.

Created by John Francis Beattie, Fergal Hughes, and Jude Mullan – three media professionals with backgrounds in television, marketing, and audio production – the series transforms a familiar space into a high-spec, multi-camera cooking arena. Over four evenings, eight home cooks went head-to-head in a MasterChef-style competition that combined technical skill with storytelling heart.

The series was filmed entirely on-site with the support of St Pius X College, which is marking its 60th anniversary. Despite a lean crew of just four, the team captured hours of footage using six cameras– with Mullan leading all technical production and sound design.

Two of Ireland’s most respected culinary figures, Stephen Hope (head chef at Dawson’s and Great British Menu alum) and Joe O’Kane (private dining and development chef with a strong social media following), brought both professionalism and relatability to the judging panel.

A standout innovation in the series is its “podcast-style” judges' table – positioned front and centre in the kitchen – encouraging relaxed, real-time feedback and unscripted interactions between contestants and chefs. The format aims to shift food TV away from polished perfectionism toward authenticity and accessibility.

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“In an age where big networks and influencers dominate,” said co-creator Beattie, “we wanted to prove you can create high-quality, meaningful content right here in the community – with local people, local businesses, and local skills. We believe this is a blueprint for other towns across Northern Ireland.”

The show spotlights not just cooking talent but also the local suppliers, producers and small businesses who supported the project with ingredients, equipment, and time. Though independently produced, Local Chef Showdown aims to match the quality of primetime broadcast or Netflix-level programming – and early interest from national networks suggests it’s already hitting the mark.

The series will premiere on YouTube and social media in winter 2025, with an official release date to be announced soon. The creators hope this pilot season is just the beginning of a travelling format that can bring community-powered television to towns and kitchens across the country.