ITV announces new food and travel series set in Ireland with Dermot O'Leary

Television broadcaster Dermot O’Leary is embarking on a flavourful adventure to make and taste Irish foods as part of an all-new ITV commission, Dermot’s Taste of Ireland for ITV1 and ITVX.

The five part series will take the presenter back to his family roots to meet the chefs and locals that champion and celebrate Ireland’s gastronomic heritage.

O’Leary was raised in Essex by his Irish parents, Maria and Seán O’Leary, in what he once told The Irish Times was very much "an Irish household – lots of crucifixes on the wall and Irish music playing."

ITV says that the X Factor presenter will visit Michelin Star restaurants in the ‘Gourmet Capital of Ireland’ Kinsale, fish for oysters by the sea in Cork, and sit down for home-grown comfort food in Wexford in the new series.

O'Leary said the show explores "two of my great loves, Ireland and food” and “the food scene in Ireland is so exciting and to meet the people and try the produce will be a real treat.”

"It's exciting to see modern Ireland through second-generation eyes - and to show that Ireland's food is more than cabbage and stews... although all their cabbage and stews are also great," He added.

He revealed some behind the scenes pictures on his Instagram, showing himself enjoying a pint of Guinness and smiling with chefs from Mary Barry's Seafood Bar.

 

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The TV personality has experience in the culinary world prior to Dermot’s Taste of Ireland as he’s previously shared some of his favourite home recipes on ITV’s This Morning, and also co-owned two fish themed restaurants, Fishy Fishy, in Brighton and Poole, both of which closed down due to lack of customers in the off seasons.

Dermot’s Taste of Ireland is the next of the ‘taste of’ series made by Rock Oyster Media, following in the footsteps of Jimmy’s Taste of Florida and Ainsley’s Taste of Malta.