Late MasterChef judge’s wife reveals she is ‘grateful for support’

Jock Zonfillo’s wife Lauren Fried is reported to be grateful for the outpouring of public love and support following her family’s loss.

A source close to the family of MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo has revealed how they are coping following their enormous loss last month.

According to the source, they are grateful for the volume of love and support they have received in the wake of Zonfrillo’s death.

The family man and beloved chef was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room earlier this month at the age of 46, just hours before the new season of MasterChef was set to air.

His wife Lauren and the couple’s two children Alfie, 5, and Isla, 2, were in Rome, where the family moved to weeks before the show was set to air on Australian television.

Zonfrillo also left behind Ava and Sophia, two daughters from two previous relationships.

Sources close to the family told Private Sydney that the public outpouring of grief over Zonfrillo’s death has not been lost on his widow.

Jock Zonfrillo's widow surrounded by family and friends. Picture: Instagram

His youngest two children and Lauren have been surrounded by friends and family since the chef’s funeral in Sydney last week.

His death has been referred to the Victorian Court for Coronial Investigation, and it is still an active case. However, it is not being treated as suspicious.

But, the source who spoke on behalf of the family claimed that Zonfrillo died of natural causes.

It comes as Channel 10 denied it is currently looking for a replacement for Jock Zonfrillo for the next season of MasterChef, following reports there were a series of frontrunners. A story on the Daily Mail claimed former MasterChef stars Dan Churchill and Hayden Quinn, along with well-known TV personality Poh Ling Yeow, were among those being considered for the next season of the long-running cooking show.

However, in a statement to news.com.au, a Ten spokesperson said: “Casting for the next season of MasterChef Australia has not commenced. To suggest otherwise is completely false and misleading.”

The popular Scottish chef – along with Melissa Leong and Andy Allen – joined MasterChef in 2019, amid a shake-up that saw the exit of longtime judges Matt Preston, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan.

Jock always spoke highly of his wife Lauren. Source: Instagram

Jock was a devoted family man. Source: Instagram

MasterChef 2023 – featuring Zonfrillo – is currently airing, with the next season set to enter pre-production later this year.

Last week, Zonfrillo was farewelled in a private funeral service by his wife and four children, the Daily Telegraph reported.

TV chefs George Calombaris, Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel. Zonfrillo’s MasterChef co-judges, Andy Allen and Melissa Leong were also in attendance.

There were nods to Zonfrillo’s Scottish heritage at the service such as his coffin adorned with Royal Banner of Scotland, while guest Jimmy Barnes wore a kilt.

Lauren said at the service that the couple were “two halves who found each other at the exact moment in life when we were ready”, the Daily Mail reported.

MasterChef was held a week before it premiered, with the blessing of Zonfrillo’s family.

The announcement sparked much discussion among MasterChef fans on social media, with many praising Ten for continuing with the season after an appropriate pause. Others, though, admitted they might struggle to watch the show so soon after Zonfrillo’s death.

“This season will be extremely hard to watch,” wrote one viewer.

“Man this’ll be hard to watch. Dunno if I can,” said another.

“Oh man, it’s going to be an extremely hard watch,” wrote another fan in one of the post’s top rated comments, before clarifying: “But I wouldn’t miss it.”