CHEF GORDON RAMSAY OPENS THE DOORS OF "HELL'S KITCHEN" ON THE TWO-HOUR SEASON 13 PREMIERE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, ON FOX

18 Aspiring Chefs Vie For a Head Chef Position at a Gordon Ramsay Restaurant

Host, executive producer and award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay fires up a brand-new season of HELL'S KITCHEN with a special, two-hour Season 13 premiere airing Wednesday, Sept. 10 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Once again, 18 new chefs from all walks of life will be tested like never before as Chef Ramsay puts them through a series of grueling team challenges and dinner services to prove they possess the passion, culinary ability and determination to win a life-changing grand prize: a Head Chef position at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, a total prize value of $250,000. Season 13 also will feature the milestone 200th episode of HELL'S KITCHEN.

Click below to watch/share the opening to HELL'S KITCHEN's most explosive season yet:

In the first hour of the premiere episode (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), Chef Ramsay extends star treatment to the newest batch of contestants when they arrive in Hollywood for a silver screen experience. But the Hollywood ending is cut short when Ramsay splits the chefs into two teams - men (Blue) vs. women (Red) - and asks them to present their signature dishes in front of a live audience. Later, the chefs struggle to work together during their first dinner service, and one team's performance is so disappointing that Chef Ramsay forces them to leave the kitchen.

In the second hour (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the Red and Blue teams will go head-to-head and dig as many Geoduck clams out of intricate sand sculptures and then recreate Ramsay's Geoduck sashimi. The team that creates 15 perfect dishes will soak up the sun on a luxury yacht with Chef Ramsay, while the losing team will clean up the sand and prepare the Geoduck nigiri and chowder for dinner service. At the end of another fiery dinner service, one more chef will be sent home.

Throughout the season, the contestants will face grueling challenges, including serving a speed brunch for a culinary graduation, impressing an ultra-exclusive club with special guest judges and preparing delicious dishes for "glampers" at a nearby campsite. Also, the dinner services will be more star-studded than ever with celebrities dining at HELL'S KITCHEN, including legendary rock musician Steven Tyler of Aerosmith; talk show host Wendy Williams; NBA Champion Chris Bosh; Olympic gold medalist sprinter Allyson Felix; comedian Penn Jillette, actor Lou Diamond-Phillips and SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE judges Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe. As the competition progresses, the number of contestants will be narrowed down until only two chefs are left to compete for the HELL'S KITCHEN title.

Below are the 18 chefs competing on this season of HELL'S KITCHEN:

The Red Team (Women) includes:

ASHLEY SHERMAN
Age: 29
Hometown: Bethlehem, PA
Occupation: Lead Line Cook
Signature Dish: Chipotle Chicken and Chorizo Deconstructed "Taco"

DENINE GIORDANO
Age: 23
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Culinary Student
Signature Dish: Chicken Parmesan

JANAI SIMPSON
Age: 24
Hometown: La Grange, GA
Occupation: Chef de Partie
Signature Dish: Lobster-Stuffed Lamb Rack

JENNIFER SALHOFF
Age: 33
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Private Chef
Signature Dish: Pan Roasted Striped Bass Succotash of Crab with Wild Mushrooms, Bacon, Fava Beans and Corn in a Spicy Charred Corn and Tomato Saffron Broth

KALEN MORGENSTERN
Age: 32
Hometown: River Oak, TX
Occupation: Sous Chef
Signature Dish: Seared Sea Scallops with Corn Purée, Pickled Onions and Tomato Sauce

KATIE McKEOWN
Age: 23
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Occupation: Line Cook
Signature Dish: Pan Seared Halibut with Jicama-Mango Slaw

LA TASHA McCUTCHEN
Age: 33
Hometown: Winter Haven, FL
Occupation: Kitchen Supervisor
Signature Dish: Grilled Watermelon Salad with Pistachio Pesto and Goat Cheese Mousse

ROE DiLEO
Age: 33
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Occupation: Head Chef
Signature Dish: Kobe Filet with Bacon Braised Brussels, Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Sweet Cippolini Onion Jus.

SADE DANCY
Age: 25
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Lead Line Cook
Signature Dish: Pea and Mushroom Risotto with Goat Cheese

The Blue Team (Men) includes:

AARON LHAMON
Age: 28
Hometown: Maynard, MA
Occupation: Lead Line Cook
Signature Dish: Financier

BRIAN SANTOS
Age: 33
Hometown: Boston, MA
Occupation: Sous Chef
Signature Dish: Skate Wing with Beurre Boisette with Sautéed Rainbow Swiss Chard and Pommes Tapées

BRYANT GALLAHER
Age: 29
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Occupation: Lead Line Cook
Signature Dish: Wild Mushroom Pork Roulade with Bousin Cheese Chipotle Grits, Brussel Sprouts and Tomato Bacon Cream Sauce

FERNANDO CRUZ
Age: 28
Hometown: La Quinta, CA
Occupation: Executive Chef
Signature Dish: Pan Seared Squab Breast with Sweet Potato Purée, Roasted Little Veggies, California Fig and Balsamic Reduction

FRANK BILOTTI
Age: 26
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Occupation: Executive Chef
Signature Dish: Filet Mignon Bordelaise with Shallot Fig Chutney and Gremolata

JP DeDOMINICIS
Age: 28
Hometown: Boston, MA
Occupation: Kitchen Manager
Signature Dish: Boston Baked Haddock with Lemon Beurre Blanc, Fingerling Potatoes and Haricots Verts

JR ROBINSON
Age: 29
Hometown: Washington, DC
Occupation: Private Chef
Signature Dish: Rockfish Tacos

STERLING WRIGHT
Age: 40
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Occupation: Grill Chef
Signature Dish: Shrimp and Grits

STEVE ROSENTHAL
Age: 34
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Occupation: Executive Chef
Signature Dish: Rack of Lamb with Spinach and Eggplant Purée and Pearl Onions

HELL'S KITCHEN is produced by ITV Studios America in association with A. Smith & Co. Productions. Arthur Smith, Kent Weed and Gordon Ramsay 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 Studios America:

ITV Studios America, the U.S. based production entity of ITV Studios in the U.K., is one of the largest producers in the U.S. and a major force in acquiring, developing and producing reality and scripted programming for U.S. networks. ITV Studios America has a slate of series in production with major networks and syndicators, including "Texas Rising," "The Good Witch," HELL'S KITCHEN, "Kitchen Nightmares," "The First 48," "After the First 48," "#RichKids of Beverly Hills," "Cesar 911," "The Chase," "Four Weddings," "Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters," "The Car Chasers" and "The Bill Cunningham Show."

ITV Studios is a world leader in television production and distribution. It has international production centers in the U.K., Germany, France, the Nordics and Australia, as well as America. The distribution business, ITV Studios Global Entertainment, is a distributor of programs to all regions worldwide. For further information visit: http://www.itvstudios.com/us.

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 2,000 hours of award-winning programming. Current productions include such hits as HELL'S KITCHEN, "Kitchen Nightmares," "American Ninja Warrior," "Ellen's Design Challenge," "Unsung," "Full Throttle Saloon," "Celebrity Crime Files," "Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura," "Too Young to Marry?," "Save Our Business," "UFC Countdown," "Joe Rogan Questions Everything," "Divorce Hotel" and many others. A. Smith & Co.'s library of programming includes hit shows such as "Paradise Hotel," "I Survived a Japanese Game Show," "The Swan," "Trading Spaces," "Pros vs. Joes" and "Skating with Celebrities." A. Smith & Co. has developed and produced the No. 1 show in America 25 times and a Top 10 show more than 200 times, producing programs with budgets totaling approximately one billion dollars for more than 42 broadcast and cable networks.