Jock Zonfrillo: MasterChef Australia to air on Sunday with family’s blessing

MasterChef Australia will go to air with the blessing of Jock Zonfrillo’s family as star chef Marco Pierre White pays tribute.

The 15th season of MasterChef Australia will go to air on Sunday with the blessing of late judge Jock Zonfrillo’s family.

Executives at Channel 10 and Endemol Shine Australia met with Zonfrillo’s family in Melbourne on Wednesday to decide the future of the show following the 46-year-old’s tragic death earlier this week.

Victoria Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the star’s death but the cause was still unknown.

The late Jock Zonfrillo with fellow MasterChef Australia judges Melissa Leong and Andy Allen during filming on Tasmania's East Coast.

Zonfrillo’s body was found at Zagame’s House, a boutique hotel on Lygon Street, in the inner-city suburb of Carlton, about 2am Monday.

It’s understood Zonfrillo’s wife Lauren and young children Alfie, 5, and Isla, 2, landed in Melbourne on Tuesday night after flying from Italy where they were living overseas.

Jock Zonfrillo with wife Lauren and kids Alfie and Isla. Picture: jockzonfrillo/Instagram

“MasterChef Australia Judge Jock Zonfrillo took great pride in challenging and coaching the contestants and of course inspiring a nation of home cooks,” a statement from Ten read.

“It is with Jock in our hearts that we cherish this season and remember the charismatic and big-hearted Judge and Chef who we knew and loved.

“Jock will be remembered in the MasterChef Australia kitchen for years to come.”

Andy Allen, Jamie Oliver, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo in the new MasterChef Australia series, which has been delayed after Zonfrillo’s sudden passing. Picture: Channel 10

Jock Zonfrillo was found dead at Zagame’s House, a boutique hotel on Lygon Street. Picture: Supplied

Meanwhile, Michelin Star chef Marco Pierre White broke his silence to pay tribute to Zonfrillo.

Zonfrillo had previously credited White with saving his life in the 1990s after he gave the Scottish chef a job and accommodation while he battled drug addiction.

Two days after Zonfrillo’s death was announced, White posted a tribute to his Instagram page.

He shared a photo of their pair in their chef uniforms with the caption: “RIP, my love and my condolences to the family. MPW x”.

Jock Zonfrillo with Michelin Star chef Marco Pierre White. Picture: Tom Huntley

MasterChef judges Melissa Leong and Andy Allen earlier paid tribute as close friends have shot down reports Zonfrillo had been secretly battling bowel cancer.

Leong posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, saying four years ago the three of them “stood on a precipice and jumped”.

“I could never have guessed how much of an impact your arrival in my life would have, or that we would be saying goodbye to you so soon. You were always supposed to be the bulletproof one who outlived us all,” she wrote.

“In that time, you showed me what true excellence looks like both in the kitchen and outside of it; your kindness and generosity, the many lives you’ve lived, the way you carried far more on your shoulders than most could ever know.

MasterChef judges Melissa Leong, Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo. Leong said Zonfrillo “showed me what true excellence looks like both in the kitchen and outside of it”.

“Thank you for challenging me daily, for making me better, my work buddy and friend, purveyor of excellent morning coffees, hater of pears, okra and nasturtiums.”

She added in her lengthy tribute that it all felt too raw to process still and that it would for some time.

“Such is the impact of a life lived so large, with so much levity and entirely on your own terms. My heart goes out to your family, who were and are your life,” Leong said, then adding “A wee dram for you today, and always.”

Andy Allen said Jock Zonfrillo was more than a mentor in the kitchen, teaching him how to be a great father. Picture: Jason Edwards

Allen posted a similarly heartbreaking post saying when he and Zonfrillo met, he knew their lives would change forever.

“What I didn’t realise is how close (wife) Alex (Davey) and I would become outside of the kitchen with you, Lauren and your kids,” he wrote.

“You’ve become such an inspirational and important part of our lives. Sure, you’ve taught me so much about food, but it’s the lessons I learnt about what it means to be a great father, husband and friend that I’ll take away from our time together and will last forever”.

In the long post, Allen also wrote he would “miss the way you mentored me and every contestant that walked into the MasterChef kitchen”.

“I’ll miss you ordering the entire menu no matter how many dishes deep and making me eat every last bite.

“I’ll miss your morning on-set coffees that made me shake from the amount of caffeine you were able to extract out of every individual bean.

“I’ll miss the morning FaceTimes with Loz, Alfie and Isla, but overall I’ll miss you looking out for me every single day,” he wrote

“Thanks for making me constantly laugh and being there when I needed to cry.

“You really were the complete package mate and life will never be the same without you. I know you’ll be looking down on Loz, Ava, Sophia, Alfie & Isla.”

Zonfrillo’s close friends were left reeling on Tuesday after reports claimed he had secretly suffered from bowel cancer for several years and was being treated for a recurrence of the disease in mid-2021.

A candle, portrait and a whiskey was a memorial tribute to Jock Zonfrillo at Tasting Australia’s secret whisky bar, Mr Whiskers. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

Several of those close to the chef and television personality refused to accept the reports which surfaced on Tuesday that he had chosen to keep his illness secret from his tight-knit circle of colleagues and friends.

“I just don’t think it’s true,” said one of his circle.

“If he was suffering from bowel cancer, we would have known. We shared so many meals and I wouldn’t think it’s a disease, or treatment, you can hide.”