r/HellsKitchen • u/iheartrsamostdays • 2d ago
In-Show Chef's table guests
Are the chef's table guests hired to appear? Or do they just get offered a free meal? Are they seen as actors on set?
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u/SoImaRedditUserNow 1d ago
I've always wondered at the spectrum of chefs table guests. ill admit u cant say I have my finger on the pulse of every face-off "famous", but when you have , say david Beckham one week and then "famed wicker basket blogger/influencer Hymie Goodenfartz" or something... like did someone cancel last minute?
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u/henry_the_human 1d ago
I want to know this too! Just my guesses:
On the one hand, I can imagine most of the chef's table guests do it for free. Most of these guests are famous but not THAT famous, and I'm guessing they would be more than happy to eat a free meal and get on TV and get some exposure.
On the other hand, there have been some surprisingly famous A-list guests. Off the top of my head, the MOST famous guest that I can remember is David Beckham. He obviously doesn't need the exposure, and I'm guessing it isn't cheap to compensate David Beckham for ~2 hours of his time. Do the A-list guests get paid to be there?
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u/Important-Picture18 1d ago
I'm guessing the megastars like Beckham are probably personal friends of Ramsay's or the studio higher ups.
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u/Discodanny 1d ago
They're probably hired just like the people that eat there are probably extras. The early seasons gave it away with having Millie Bobby Brown before she got famous, so being an extra on the show might have been an early role.
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u/BadWolf_Corporation 1d ago
There used to be a breakdown of it on the show's website. I don't remember the exact numbers, but it's something like:
At the Chef's Table:
100% of the celebrities at the Chef's Table are always invited by Gordon Ramsay or one of the other Executive Producers.
In the dining room:
60% of the guests are casted extras,
30% are friends/family of people involved with the show.
10% are invited guests (e.g. regular people who get invited to be there).