Top Chef Heads to London for Special World All-Stars Season

Bravo’s Top Chef, produced by Magical Elves, is slated to film a special World All-Stars 20th season in London.

Top Chef World All-Stars will bring together 16 of the most talented, creative and decorated chefs who have competed in their respective countries’ versions of the series as they vie for the ultimate Top Chef title. The series will begin production this month in London, with host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons. The 20th season is slated to premiere in 2023.

This special anniversary season marks the first time that the flagship edition of Top Chef, which now has 29 international versions, will shoot an entire season abroad. From traditional pub food to modern Indian cuisines, the chefs will be cooking with the best ingredients the U.K. has to offer as they cook their way through globally inspired quickfire and elimination challenges. Throughout the competition, Lakshmi, Colicchio and Simmons will be joined by judges from the international versions, as well as global culinary experts.

Ryan Flynn, senior VP of current production at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said: “We’ve always wanted to do a season of Top Chef with winners, finalists and frontrunners, but to take that concept for the 20th season one step further with cheftestants from localized versions across the world has been a dream come true. And what better place to host World All-Stars than London, a global stomping ground and renowned food city, offering our cheftestants access to the U.K.’s exceptional ingredients and international flavors.”

Victoria Prentis, food minister for the U.K. Government, added: “I’m pleased that Top Chef has chosen London for its first-ever season outside of the U.S. We’re rightly proud of our exceptional food and drink produced here in the U.K. From Scottish salmon and Welsh lamb to Northern Irish beef and English sparkling wine, our food and drink is recognized at home and abroad for its great taste and high quality. As the U.K.’s largest manufacturing sector, the passion, traditions and expertise of our food and drink industry make the U.K. a fantastic choice for the culinary competition series.”