The names of the three finalists competing in MasterChef: The Professionals 2026 have been revealed.
Luke Emmess, head chef at the Wykeham Arms in Winchester; Mark O’Brien, chef patron at Willy’s Margate; and personal chef Gareth Baty have made it by way of to the final spherical of the competitors.
Earlier this week, the trio beat fellow Final Four chef Caroline Meyer Kerber, who’s behind non-public chef enterprise Preamar, throughout the chef’s desk problem held at the Goring in London, in addition to making ready a dish on the theme of ‘home’.
As a part of finals week, Emmess, O’Brien and Baty cooked a dish representing the philosophy of chef Norbert Niederkofler of the three-Michelin-starred Atelier Moessmer in Brunico, South Tyrol, in addition to delivering a lunch service at the restaurant, showcasing dishes corresponding to risotto flavoured with pine oil and catfish garnished with grated beef coronary heart.
The trio will head again to the MasterChef kitchen for the final battle, which is able to air at 8pm this Thursday (26 March).
Who is Luke Emmess?
Emmess attended culinary faculty at South Downs school for six years, the place he specialised in each larder and pastry in his final 12 months. During his time at school, he additionally had his first baby aged simply 17. In doing so, he learnt to juggle work and household.
The Wykeham Arms in Winchester, a Fuller’s outlet, has continued to retain two-AA-rosettes for the previous six years underneath Emmess’ management of the kitchen, and the chef has shared ambitions to additional elevate its providing.
He mentioned he entered MasterChef: The Professionals as a result of he wished some self-validation. His delicacies has a robust European affect, however he all the time tries to carry some Thai, Indian and American accents into his meals.
Who is Gareth Baty?
Baty is a self-taught chef who got here to the business later in life. He began out by internet hosting supper golf equipment in his east London flat earlier than taking himself to New York, the place he cooked soul meals at Harlem Food Bar. Upon his return to England, he headed again to his hometown of Cumbria, the place he labored on a farm.
He mentioned getting by way of to the final has stuffed him with satisfaction and that he’ll proceed to “cook with conviction and heart and enjoy every moment of what lies ahead”. His delicacies is rooted in nostalgia and significant moments in life.
Who is Mark O’Brien?
Irish chef O’Brien spent a couple of years at University College Dublin learning medicinal chemistry and chemical biology earlier than stepping again to pursue a profession in eating places. After attending an expert cookery course in Dublin’s Cooks Academy, he began working at Coppinger Row in his hometown. He then labored with Robin Gill at the Dairy in London’s Clapham and is now primarily based at Willy’s in Margate as head chef.
He determined to star in MasterChef as a result of he wished to advertise his barbecue pop-ups and nonetheless has ambitions to open his personal live-fire steakhouse at some point. He is especially keen on cooking over hearth and enjoys engaged on his butchery methods.
Here is everything you need to know about all 32 cooks who competed in MasterChef: The Professionals 2026.
