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Chef Anne Burrell will appear for the last time as a mentor on “Worst Cooks in America” when the new season debuts July 28. The Season 29 premiere comes just over a month after Burrell died at home at age 55 in what was later ruled to be a suicide.
Chef Anne Burrell will appear for the last time as a mentor on “Worst Cooks in America” when the new season debuts July 28. The Season 29 premiere comes just over a month after Burrell died at home at age 55 in what was later ruled to be a suicide.
When Will ‘Worst Cooks in America: Talented and Terrible’ Air?
Anne Burrell’s final season of “Worst Cooks in America” premieres on Monday, July 28, at 9 p.m. ET on Food Network. The premiere episode is titled, “Talented & Terrible: Boot Camp’s Got Talent.” It will be available to stream on HBO Max on July 29.
New episodes of Season 29 with Burrell will air each subsequent Monday.
A Season Full of Performances and Tributes
Burrell’s final season for the show will highlight her efforts to transform professional performers who are otherwise culinarily underdogs into top chefs, according to a Food Network press release.
Food Network confirmed to People that “Worst Cooks in America” will show love to Burrell throughout the season.
“The series will pay tribute to Anne each week,” the network said.
Anne Burrell’s Legacy
Burrell first appeared on “Worst Cooks in America” in 2010 as a co-host alongside chef Beau MacMillan.
Speaking to People about the new season, Gabe Bertaccini, who will appear for the first time as a mentor on “Worst Cooks in America” this season, reflected on what the show meant to Burrell.
“It was her baby. She wasn’t there for the paycheck,” Bertaccini said.
“One thing that I have to say, the love, the authentic love that she had for the contestants, for the cooks, the love that she had to really teach them. She was there to teach them how to cook, it wasn’t just a show,” he added.
Season 29 will debut nearly a month after her death on June 17 at the age of 55 at her Brooklyn home. At the time, emergency personnel reported to her home concerning a cardiac arrest, and the New York Police Department said that she had been pronounced dead at the scene.
The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner later ruled Burrell’s death a suicide, per a July 24 statement.
News of her death set off an outpouring of tributes from chefs, colleagues and fans worldwide.
The day of her death, Food Network issued a statement on Instagram in condolence.
“We are deeply saddened to share the news that beloved chef, Anne Burrell, passed away this morning,” the statement read. “Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent — teaching, competing and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring. Our thoughts are with Anne’s family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.”
In a statement to TODAY.com, representatives for Burrell remembered her “trademark spiky blonde hair and sparkling personality.
“Anne Burrell was the hugely popular and fan favorite host of Food Network’s hit show, Worst Cooks in America,” the statement read. “Burrell was an industry veteran and passionate teacher who prided herself on her work in the culinary world.”
On June 18, TODAY’s Craig Melvin and Carson Daly reflected on the lessons and interactions they shared with Burrell. She often cooked alongside the TODAY hosts, most recently with Jenna Bush Hager and guest host Jay Ellis in an April 9 appearance on “Jenna and Friends.”
“Her spirit was just remarkable,” Craig said at the time. “Sometimes you never knew what was gonna come out of that mouth.”
“That’s what I loved about her,” Carson added. “It was really shocking to hear yesterday, you know she was so young. I felt like I lost my aunt, and I didn’t really even know her that well.”
“She made you feel that way, as advertised, funny, so inclusive, made you feel so good,” he added. “Just really sad news to get.”
