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Returning Chefs is a gameplay idea for Hell's Kitchen.

Overview[]

On some occasions, Ramsay will invite chefs from previous seasons to compete for another chance at winning the grand prize. These people are chefs that Ramsay felt deserved the chance.

These do not include chefs that were invited as guest judges, nor chefs that became Sous Chefs in later seasons.

History[]

Season 6[]

The first chef to ever return was Season 5's Robert. While he and his wife were invited for the opening service of the season, Ramsay planned to have him come back after Robert was forced to leave due to medical problems. After service ended, Ramsay gave Robert the offer and the latter took it. While Robert joined the men during the post-mortem and elimination, Ramsay moved him to the red team after Melinda's elimination. However, after Joseph and Tony's exits, Robert was reassigned to the men and would stay until his elimination after the seventh service.

Season 12[]

Season 9's Jason would be the next chef to return, having forced to leave last time due to dehydration. However, unlike Robert, Jason was mixed in with the 19 new chefs. Jason would stay in the competition well through the finale, only to lose to Scott.

Season 17[]

For the first time, 16 former chefs were invited back to the competition by Ramsay. Although each of them had different rankings, they were all former black jackets in their respective seasons. The returning chefs included:

Season Chef Original Placement
Season 5 Ben Walanka 4th
Giovanni Filippone 6th
Season 6 Van Hurd
Season 7 Benjamin Knack 3rd
Season 9 Elise Harris
Jennifer Normant 5th
Season 10 Dana Cohen 3rd
Barbie Marshall 4th
Robyn Almodovar 6th
Season 14 Michelle Tribble 3rd
Milly Medley 4th
Nick Peters Bond 5th
Josh Trovato 6th
Season 15 Ashley Nickell 3rd
Jared Bobkin 4th
Manda Palomino 5th

Season 18[]

In the following season, Ramsay created another twist, by inviting 8 former chefs, dubbed Veterans, to compete against a team of new chefs, dubbed Rookies. The Rookies Vs. Veterans team format would last until the end of the third service, where Ramsay decided to bring back the battle of the sexes. The returning chefs included:

Season Chef Original Placement
Season 4 Jen Gavin 4th
Season 6 Kevin Cottle Runner-up
Ariel Contreras-Fox 3rd
Season 8 Trev McGrath 4th
Season 13 Roe DiLeo 5th
Season 14 T Gregoire Runner-up
Bret Hauser 11th/Medical Exit
Season 16 Heather Williams Runner-up

Trivia[]

  • Robert is the first chef that competed in two different seasons (Seasons 5 and 6), and the only chef that joined the initial cast after the opening night.
  • Jason (Seasons 9 and 12) is the first chef that returned with a new cast, the first male that improved their ranking during their second season, and the first that received a black jacket after missing out in their first season.
  • Robyn (Seasons 10 and 17) is the first female chef that improved their ranking during their second season.
  • Milly (Season 14 and 17) is the first chef that received a black jacket in two seasons, as well as the only contestant to rank at the same place for both seasons (4th place). Michelle (Season 14) is the first female chef that received a black jacket in two seasons. Coincidentally, the two received black jackets in the same seasons (first during Season 14, and second during Season 17).
  • Of all the returnees, Michelle and Ariel are the only chefs to date that won during their second season.
  • Out of all the seasons, Season 14 holds the record for most returnees with 6 (four returned for Season 17, while two returned for Season 18). Seasons 4, 7, 8, and 16 hold the record for the least number of returnees with one each.
  • To date, nobody from Seasons 1-3, 11, 12, and 18 (rookies)-22 have returned for another season.
Hell's Kitchen
Chefs (Returning Chefs) • ChallengesDeleted ScenesDVDsElimination Ceremony (Withdrawal) • EpisodesGuest JudgesPunishmentsSeasonsService (Final Service) • StaffTeamVideo Game
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