FOR FIRST TIME EVER, ROOKIES TAKE ON VETERANS IN THE ALL-NEW SEASON OF "HELL'S KITCHEN," PREMIERING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, ON FOX

Winner to Receive Position at Gordon Ramsay HELL'S KITCHEN Restaurant at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

For the 18th season of HELL'S KITCHEN, premiering Friday, Sept. 28 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, Gordon Ramsay's hit cooking competition series returns with a twist: pitting veteran contestants against rookies. For the first time in the show's history, eight accomplished chefs who have competed in previous seasons - and lost - will be brought back for a shot at redemption and tested like never before, as they go up against eight ambitious rookies.

Each week, the chefs will be put through a series of grueling culinary challenges and dinner services to prove to Chef Ramsay they have what it takes to win a life-changing grand prize: a position at the world's first Gordon Ramsay HELL'S KITCHEN Restaurant at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and $250,000.

In the premiere episode, the rookie chefs will cook up the best versions of their signature dishes and the veterans will attempt to create those same dishes, foregoing the making of their own signature dishes, in the process. The winning team will be rewarded with a first-class meal at restaurant Charcoal and will be joined by Ramsay.

Below are the 16 chefs competing on this season of HELL'S KITCHEN:

The Blue Team (Veterans) includes:

Ariel Fox (Season 6 - 3rd Place)
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Bret Hauser (Season 14 - left due to injury)
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Heather Williams (Season 16 - Runner Up)
Hometown: Easton, PA

Jen Gavin (Season 4 - 4th Place)
Hometown: Chicago, IL

Kevin Cottle (Season 6 - Runner-Up)
Hometown: Connecticut / Massachusetts

Roe DiLeo (Season 13 - 5th Place)
Hometown: Dallas, TX

T Gregorie (Season 14 - Runner-Up)
Hometown: Draper, VA

Trevor McGrath (Season 8 - 4th Place)
Hometown: New York, NY

The Red Team (Rookies) includes:

Chris Mendonca
Hometown: Boston, MA

Chris Motto
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA

Gizzy Barton
Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Jose DeJesus
Hometown: Bronx, NY

Kanae Houston
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Mia Castro
Hometown: Miami Beach, FL

Scotley Innis
Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Scott Popovic
Hometown: Cleveland, OH

HELL'S KITCHEN is produced by ITV Entertainment in association with A. Smith & Co. Productions, Inc. Arthur Smith, Kent Weed, Gordon Ramsay, Kenny Rosen and David Eilenberg serve as executive producers. "Like" HELL'S KITCHEN on Facebook at facebook.com/hellskitchen. Follow the series on Twitter at @hellskitchenfox, and follow Ramsay at @GordonRamsay.

About ITV Entertainment

ITV Entertainment, part of the ITV America group, is one of the largest international producers for the U.S. market and a major force in acquiring, developing and producing entertainment programming for U.S. networks. ITV Entertainment has a wide slate of series with major networks and syndicators, including HELL'S KITCHEN (FOX); "Queer Eye" (Netflix); "The First 48" (A&E); THE FOUR: BATTLE FOR STARDOM (FOX); "Keep It Spotless" (Nickelodeon); The "Job Interview" (CNBC); and "Four Weddings" (TLC), as well as upcoming series in development for Bravo, A&E and Netflix, among others.

About A. Smith & Co. Productions

A. Smith & Co. Productions creates some of the most innovative, highly rated and high-quality programming for the domestic and international television marketplace. The company has produced more than 4,500 hours of award-winning programming, with budgets totaling well over one billion dollars across more than 50 networks and platforms. Current productions include HELL'S KITCHEN, "American Ninja Warrior," "The Titan Games," "Unsung," "Inside the Label," "American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja," "SciJinks," "NFL Pro Bowl Skills Showdown," "American Ninja Warrior Junior," "The Dunk King" and "Death by Magic." Past hits include "Kitchen Nightmares," "Ellen's Design Challenge," "Full Throttle Saloon," "Wizard Wars," "Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura," "UFC Countdown," "Joe Rogan Questions Everything," "Paradise Hotel," "I Survived a Japanese Game Show," "The Swan," "Trading Spaces," "Celebrity Duets," "Pros vs. Joes," "American Gangster," "The Game of Dating," "Skating with Celebrities" and many others. For more information, visit www.asmithco.com.

About Gordon Ramsay HELL'S KITCHEN

The world's first Gordon Ramsay HELL'S KITCHEN restaurant has been turning up the heat at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas since opening in January 2018. Drawing inspiration from the global hit FOX reality television show starring world-renowned Chef Gordon Ramsay, guests will feel transported to the studio set in the experiential and immersive destination restaurant. Located in front of Caesars Palace, the restaurant seats more than 300 guests, including two chef's tables, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the famous Las Vegas Strip, red and blue design details in the centerpiece kitchen, a private dining room and a contemporary bar serving the latest trends in mixology. The Red and Blue kitchens serve up modern lunch and dinner menus, including HELL'S KITCHEN signature dishes, including Pan-Seared Scallops, Lobster Risotto, Beef Wellington and more, made with the highest quality ingredients.

About Caesars Palace:

World-renowned Las Vegas resort and a Top 10 "Best U.S. Casino" by USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice, Caesars Palace features 3,980 hotel guest rooms and suites, including the all-new Palace Tower, featuring 10 new luxury villas, the 182-room Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace and Forbes Star Award-winning The Laurel Collection by Caesars Palace. The 85-acre resort offers diverse dining options, from the award-winning Bacchanal Buffet, to celebrity chef-branded restaurants, including the newest additions, Gordon Ramsay HELL'S KITCHEN and, from Giada De Laurentiis, Pronto by Giada; as well as Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill; one of Nobu Matsuhisa's largest Nobu Restaurants; Restaurant Guy Savoy; and MR CHOW. The resort also features nearly 130,000 square feet of casino space, including a recently renovated race and sports book, boasting the largest screen on the Strip at 138 ft.; a five-acre Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis; the luxurious Qua Baths & Spa; COLOR Salon by celebrity hairstylist Michael Boychuck; five wedding chapels and gardens; and the new 75,000-square-foot OMNIA Nightclub with top DJs, such as Calvin Harris, Kaskade and Zedd. The 4,300-seat Colosseum, Billboard magazine's Venue of the Decade, spotlights world-class entertainers, including Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Reba, Brooks & Dunn, Jerry Seinfeld and Mariah Carey. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace showcases more than 160 boutiques and restaurants. Caesars Palace is operated by a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR). For more information, please visit caesarspalace.com or the Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas media room.