Kumari Shreya
Hosted by Gordon Ramsay, Fox’s ‘Next Level Chef’ provides several chefs a chance to showcase their skills to the world. With various challenges to test their talent in the kitchen, the participants are mentored by culinary giants like Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais. Despite the best efforts of the competitors, only one person per season will have the chance to win $250,000 and be mentored further by the trio of iconic chefs.
Since the cooking show first aired, it has captured the viewers’ attention, given the undeniably impressive talent showcased by the cast members. However, many people have also expressed curiosity about how authentic the reality series is. For those wondering about the show’s legitimacy, we have just the answers you need!
Is Next Level Chef Scripted?
No, we do not believe that ‘Next Level Chef’ is a scripted show. As it turns out, the idea of the reality series was conceived during the pandemic by none other than Gordon Ramsay. Seeing how negatively the fallout from the lockdowns hit the restaurant industry, the celebrity chef decided to focus on the very basis of the field and combine the worlds of professional and amateur cooking with the ever-growing popularity of social media.
“I had this crazy idea: My career started in the basement. And when I won my third Michelin star, I got to the very, very top—but I still had those cuts of fish and meat that I still have heavily featured on my menu out of respect from starting from the bottom, from a braised oxtail to a mackerel that’s not as glamorous as tuna,” he shared with Thrillist. “So, three kitchens stacked on top of one another, three incredible mentors. And then there were the sparks that flew when we put social media cooks together with professional chefs—watching them argy-bargy in the kitchen, it’s brilliant.”
From the set’s grand design that one can see on the show to the detailed format of the competition, the ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ star was involved in every step of the process. The construction of the three different kitchens in the required way may have cost a lot of money, but Gordon was determined to bring the concept to life. Furthermore, involving Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais as mentors for the show was an attempt to set the show apart from the others within the genre.
Thanks to Rob Wade, a Fox Executive Producer, the idea for the year-long mentorship the winner of each season is offered came into being. He shared with Gordon and his team how each season’s victor would constantly be scrutinized about whether they could build on their reality TV success. “So, we put together an amazing 12-month mentorship program where they’ve got access to Richard, Nyesha, and me. And the winner is going to be tucked under our wings,” Gordon explained. “They’re spending time in our businesses. We’ve committed time to their businesses and, of course, a major investment.”
Although, since the show first aired, it has received some criticism regarding how its judging takes place, especially in the first round of every episode. Given that the judges know who cooked what dish for the round, many believe the judgment might not be fair as the mentors might be inclined to score their mentees highly or down mark the others. That said, the mentors’ competitiveness during this round provides much entertainment to the viewers. Moreover, eliminations are always decided through blind judgment during the second round.
Given the meticulousness of the series and the prestigious names attached, we do not believe that the show is scripted. While it is possible that the judges might be partial to their mentees, it should also be noted that each judge has equal power, and their competitiveness seems to be as much a part of the show as any other element is. Besides, the credentials of most of the participants are ready to verify how showrunners try to bring talented culinary artists.
Read More: Where is Next Level Chef Filmed?
