MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo reveals extent of mental health struggles

After a struggling contestant exited the competition, MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo has opened up on how food saved him from his demons.

Masterchef judge Jock Zonfrillo has revealed the full extent of his mental health battle, crediting food with saving him from jail or death.

Following the recent emotional exit of struggling contestant Brent Draper from the cooking show, Zonfrillo was reminded how far he and society had come.

“If it hadn’t been for food I would definitely be behind bars or in a pine box six foot under for sure,’’ the Scottish restaurateur told the Sunday Herald Sun.

“There’s no way, and I had a couple of gos at trying to sort out my mental health as well.

“Not realising I was in a bad place and you just don’t know because no one tells you. It wasn’t until I left behind a couple of failed marriages and a breakdown in relationship, friends or otherwise.

“(I thought) something’s not right here and it’s me. By which time I’d lost a lot — friends and love and marriage and contact with kids. For a lot of people by then it’s too late. You’ve really got to get on top of it early.”

The father of four has previously spoken about his mental health journey and recovery from being a drug addict.

Jock Zonfrillo.

Zonfrillo says he lost a lot through mental health battles.

During lockdown Zonfrillo made over 400 sets of worry beads, the accessory he’s clutched while filming to help cope with anxiety.

He gave a set to Draper and will sell the rest with $5 from each sale going to Beyond Blue.

“Lockdown gave me a lot of time and I’ve got a Scottish type room (at home) and I kind of took myself there daily for a couple of hours and started making worry beads in a reasonable volume,’’ Zonfrillo said.

“My wife (Lauren Fried) walked in one day, just in shock. You know when you go into a serial killer’s lair and she was like what the f--- has been going on in here?

“This is our fourth time spinning the wheel at MasterChef (currently filming Celebrity MasterChef) and so many people have reached out and said what an amazing idea.”

He added: “The thing about hospitality that people probably don’t know is that it’s an industry full of extreme highs and lows... it’s plagued with the potential for bad mental health. There’s lots of things you can do as a person to avoid it but if someone is not aware it’s all too easy to find yourself in a bad spot mentally without even realising it.”

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