Since the season 11 finale of , fans have never really forgotten Adrien Cachot. A discreet but ultra creative finalist, he was one of those candidates whose return seemed inevitable. As we approach , this impression is confirmed, with a turning point that goes far beyond simple nostalgia.
According to the first information on the next season, the chef must return to the kitchens of M6, but this time within the jury. Going from candidate to juror is part of a more global strategy: after a shaken season 17 and declining audiences, the channel is banking on a return to basics with the reestablishment of the brigades.
Adrien Cachot, from cult finalist to symbol of
In 2020, in Paul Pairet’s brigade, Adrien Cachot reached the final against David Gallienne and became one of the cult faces of . The Food et Sens website even describes it as one.
Since this final, the chef has never completely left the show, returning to offer tests and judge the candidates. At the same time, he opened his restaurant Vaisseau in Paris in 2023, which obtained a Michelin star in 2025 and established his legitimacy as a chef.
: M6, the return of the brigades and the response to audience erosion
If M6 remains a strong brand, season 17 confirmed a clear erosion. In spring 2026, it attracted around 1.47 million viewers in the early evening, compared to 1.78 million the previous year, and the June finale fell to 1.36 million, a historic low in linear audience.
This very revised formula, more itinerant and less centered on the brigades, confused part of the public. The production draws lessons from this: the next edition plans for the return of these coached teams, a jury increased to six chefs and a specific role entrusted to Adrien Cachot.
The new role of Adrien Cachot: what this changes for the candidates and fans of
Concretely, the chef will join the set alongside Philippe Etchebest, Hélène Darroze, Paul Pairet, Stéphanie Le Quellec and Glenn Viel. He should not lead a brigade, but support the candidates who remain without a team, these more fragile profiles that the show already describes as solitary candidates.
The challenge is clear: bring into the jury a generation that has experienced the competition from the inside. The 2020 season had already made Adrien Cachot an emblematic figure. It remains to be seen what concrete place will be given to it and whether this return to basics will be enough to relaunch the competition.
Who is Adrien Cachot in Top Chef?
Adrien Cachot is the finalist of season 11 of , in 2020, in Paul Pairet’s brigade.
What will be Adrien Cachot’s role in Top Chef 2027?
In 2027, he must join the jury as a coach, without leading an assigned brigade.
Is the brigade system returning to Top Chef 2027?
Yes, announces the return of the brigade system, put on hold during season 17.
