Anne Burrell’s final ‘worst cooks in America’ season premieres amidst mourning after chef’s tragic death”

Food Network is set to air the last season featuring chef Anne Burrell as mentor on “Worst Cooks in America,” just weeks after her shocking death at age 55. The new season, titled “Talented and Terrible,” premiering on July 28 at 9 p.m. ET, becoming a tribute to the chef whose influence and vibrant personality made her a household name for over two decades.

Burrell was found unresponsive in her Brooklyn home on June 17 and was pronounced dead at the scene. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide from “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, cetirizine, ethanol, and amphetamine.” The medical examiner’s findings indicate a potentially dangerous mix of antihistamines, alcohol, and ADHD medication.

Sources report that Burrell had performed in a comedy improv show at Second City New York just the night before her death, described by friends as in “high spirits” and displaying her typical warm, outgoing personality. She leaves behind her husband, Stuart Claxton, and family members who described her as a “beloved wife, sister, and stepmother … Her spirit and boundless love remain eternal”.

A farewell season and weekly tributes

Season 29 of “Worst Cooks in America” launches on Food Network and HBO Max, with the premiere airing a little over a month after Burrell’s death. The new season will honor Anne with tributes each week, celebrating her trademark spiky blonde hair, genuine passion for teaching, and deep investment in her contestants’ personal journeys. Food Network called it “her passion project,” emphasizing her commitment to empowering kitchen novices to become confident cooks.

Anne’s final season is also the first to feature chef Gabe Bertaccini as her co-host. Bertaccini described Burrell as “a chef who genuinely cared, a person who was authentic and deeply invested,” adding, “While I am saddened by her absence, I believe she would have cherished seeing herself in this season and relived all the wild moments we shared”.

Culinary and television legacy

Burrell’s career began in the kitchens of New York City and at the Culinary Institute of America. She became a TV fixture as Mario Batali’s sous chef on “Iron Chef America,” later hosting “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” and co-creating “Worst Cooks in America,” which she led for 27 of its 28 seasons. She also appeared on “Chopped,” “Chef Wanted,” and many other Food Network staples.

Anne authored two cookbooks, including the New York Times bestseller “Cook Like a Rock Star,” and was deeply involved in charity work, including serving as an ambassador for juvenile diabetes research.

An outpouring of support

Burrell’s sudden passing has left the culinary world and millions of fans in mourning. Colleagues and competitors have expressed admiration for her teaching style, describing her as “an extraordinary individual and culinary talent — teaching, competing, and always emphasizing the significance of food in her life and the joy a delicious meal can provide”.

The new season stands as a living memorial to her influence, ensuring that Anne Burrell’s passion for cooking and her legacy as an inspiring mentor will endure for years to come.