Hell’s Kitchen is one of the most popular cooking shows on television. Known for its high-pressure challenges and the antics of head chef Gordon Ramsay, the show is a great way to feel energized without experiencing any pressure yourself. However, despite the fact that the show has spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Hell’s Kitchen. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: The Producers Look for Passion. When accepting applicants to the show, its producers search primarily for a sense of passion. More than skill or level-headedness, passion is the most important character trait of the show’s contestants.
Number Fourteen: You Don’t Have to Be Hardcore to Get on the Show. Though many of the contestants are covered in tattoos or smoke like a chimney, the producers say that it’s not a prerequisite to being accepted. It just so happens that many of the passionate people who are interested in being on the show have that lifestyle.
Number Thirteen: Contestants Have to Put Everything on Hold for Five Weeks. Jobs, families, any obligations you have to your real life – forget it for five weeks if you’re a contestant on Hell’s Kitchen. Contestants can’t call home or even watch television for the five weeks it takes to film a season.
Number Twelve: Contestants Share a Bedroom. Every contestant shares a bedroom with at least three or four other contestants, and the layout of the living quarters is similar to a dorm. Cameras are everywhere, including in the bathroom, so it’s difficult to hide anything.
Number Eleven: Most Contestants Don’t Get Much Sleep. Most days on the show begin around 7 in the morning, and most nights don’t finish up until about 2 in the morning the next day. This allows for just five short hours of sleep, which might explain why some of the contestants always look so haggard.
Number Ten: The Contestants Have to Cook Their Own Meals. Despite the fact that contestants can be working for up to 19 hours a day, they still have to cook their own food when they wrap for the day. The fridge is fully stocked, but that doesn’t make cooking after a stressful day on a cooking show any easier.
Number Nine: It’s Sort of Like School. The show’s head chef, Gordon Ramsay, has compared the process of being a contestant on Hell’s Kitchen to school. Because of the long days and difficult challenges, being a contestant is sort of like attending an Ivy League college – but worse. Stay tuned for part two of our list of 15 things you didn’t know about Hell’s Kitchen, coming soon!