Every 'MasterChef' Contestant Returning to Season 12 From Brandi Mudd to Dara Yu

TV & Film Reporter (SEO)

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MasterChef is back for its 12th season and the cooking competition is going to be tougher than ever as 20 former contestants are returning for another shot at winning the coveted title.

The new edition of the Fox show is titled MasterChef: Back to Win and it certainly does what it says on the tin as it will see contestants from previous seasons, including MasterChef Junior make their comeback in the kitchen.

From fan favorites to MasterChef Junior chefs there will be several contestants fans will recognize from seasons past, and here is everything you need to know about those returning.

Every 'MasterChef' Contestant Returning to Season 12 From Brandi Mudd to Dara Yu

MasterChef Season 12, which premieres on Wednesday May 25, is focused on giving previous contestants the chance to redeem themselves after losing out years before.

The first three episodes of the cooking competition show will see the Top 40 home cooks from past seasons returning to audition for a coveted apron, but a first-look clip from the show has seemingly already revealed who made it to the Top 20.

Ready for the first look at Season 12 of #MasterChef?

Don't miss the premiere next Wednesday at 8/7c on @FOXTV. pic.twitter.com/WFhNHgVjYm
— MasterChef (@MASTERCHEFonFOX) May 17, 2022

Brandi Mudd, who competed on Season 7 and lost to Shaun O'Neale alongside fellow runner-up David Williams, is set to return to the cooking show, the video reveals.

Season 6 runner-up Derrick Peltz, who now uses the last name Fox, is one of the chefs returning to the MasterChef kitchen, as are his fellow competitors Tommy Walton, Stephen Lee, Shelly Flash, and Amanda Saab, all of whom lost to Claudia Sandoval.

Dara Yu from MasterChef Junior Season 1 is also making a comeback, as is Shayne Wells who originally competed on MasterChef Junior Season 5.

In the preview for the season, judge Gordon Ramsay said of the pair: "The big shock for me was witnessing two of the incredible MasterChef Juniors, now adults, competing in Back to Win. Boy are they good, and when I say good I mean good like there is no tomorrow."

Several contestants from Season 9 are also returning including Emily Hallock, Samantha Daily, Shanika Patterson, and Bowen Li, who all lost to Gerron Hurt the first time around.

Season 10 contestants Brielle "Bri" Baker, Fred Chang, and Michael Silverstein are also going to make a triumphant return to the show.