Andy Allen gives emotional first TV interview after co-star Jock Zonfrillo’s death

MasterChef judge Andy Allen has delivered an emotional tribute to Jock Zonfrillo during his first TV interview since his mate’s shock death.

MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen has delivered an emotional tribute to late colleague Jock Zonfrillo during a special episode of The Sunday Project on Sunday night.

The episode aired one week after Zonfrillo’s death at the age of 46. His body was discovered by police in a Melbourne hotel room in the early hours of Monday morning, with his death announced that afternoon – just hours before the new season of MasterChef Australia was set to air.

As Zonfrillo’s family, fans and colleagues reeled at the news of his sudden death, the season premiere of his show was pulled from the schedules and instead debuted at 7:30pm tonight on Ten.

MasterChef judge Andy Allen appeared on The Sunday Project tonight, speaking on TV for the first time about a very difficult week.

Allen struggled as he remembered his mate. Picture: Channel 10

Speaking with The Project co-host Sarah Harris, Allen revealed he had enjoyed a three-hour catch up over lunch with Zonfrillo the day before his death.

“We just talked each other’s ear off for three hours. It was so … It was so normal. He was in such good spirits,” he said.

“He was so excited about the show launching.”

He added that he felt “guilty” that Zonfrillo’s wife Lauren Fried and their young children, who were in Rome at the time of his death, weren’t there for that final lunch.

“Part of me … just feels guilty that it wasn’t them … I just wish that it was them sitting there having lunch with Jock. I’d give anything to swap positions,” he said, adding that Lauren was “the strongest woman I have ever known”.

“She’s lost her best friend. You know … Jock’s got three daughters, and it’s things like never being able to walk them down the aisle … They’re the things that are hurting her the most.”

Andy Allen (left) spoke about Jock Zonfrillo (right) in his first TV interview since his co-star’s death. Picture: Sam Tabone/Getty

Allen shared that as well as being his best mate, Zonfrillo also acted as a mentor, and said Zonfrillo and his wife “were family” to him.

“Being 10 years younger than him, I still have so many things to learn. That was one of the things that he taught me, was to be vulnerable and show your emotions,” he said.

“And he’d probably be up there now going, ‘I did an all-right job ‘cause you’re a mess’.”

Allen said his mate’s death had hit him “like a tonne of bricks”.

“I want to say I’m OK, but, um … Yeah, I am not great,” he said.

“He’s just always been there for me, and … I’m just struggling to realise that he’s actually – he’s gone.

Sarah Harris and Andy Allen. Picture: Channel 10

“The hardest thing is … I can’t get [Zonfrillo’s son Alfie’s] little voice and face out of my head saying, ‘You’re my best friend, poppa’. He said it every day.

“I am gonna miss everything that this guy has brought into my life. He couldn’t wait … for [Allen’s wife] Alex and I to have kids as well. Yeah, he couldn’t wait for that. He always said I was gonna be a great dad. And I just wish he was around to see that.”

A slew of other celebrity chefs also shared tributes to Zonfrillo, including Gordon Ramsay, Curtis Stone, Shannon Bennett, Marco Pierre White, Maggie Beer and Jamie Oliver, as well as a long list of Australian celebrities such as Grace Tame, Rebecca Gibney, Jimmy Barnes and Tommy Little.

“He lived for his passion, for food, for his kids. He was a legend. He was. He always will be,” a choked-up Tame said.

Ramsay was also moved to tears while speaking about his friend.

Grace Tame shared an emotional message after Jock Zonfrillo’s death. Picture: Channel 10

“The ripples have been devastating. No-one’s gonna get over this quickly. If there’s one thing that we’ve done as chefs is we’ve united and we’re talking about the good times. So … Yikes.

… Sorry. It’s just so painful,” he said.

“That’s all. If I could say one last thing. Mate, love ya. Miss ya. And that next glass of whisky, it’s dedicated to you, mate. I’ll miss you.”

Gordon Ramsay broke down during the special tribute. Picture: Channel 10

Former The Project co-host Tommy Little also shared a touching memory about the last time the pair spoke.

“The only regret I have is the last time I saw him I interrupted his dinner. Lauren … he didn’t tell me to go away, but had I known you had so few dinners left with the love of your life, I never would have come over,” he said.

“I love you, mate. I miss you.”

Marco Pierre-White also spoke about Zonfrillo’s incredible professional success.

“ … it was that enthusiasm which drove him. Maybe fuelled by his fears of failure, by his insecurities, which I could relate to,” Pierre-White said.

“Jock Zonfrillo will never die. He will live on through everyone he touched. He lives within us, and everybody who watches that show, a little piece of him will be still in there. That’s the truth.”

The episode ended with Barnes singing a moving rendition of the classic Scottish tune Loch Lomond in honour of his countryman.

In a statement this week, Ten said the decision to proceed with this season of MasterChef after a one-week delay comes “with the full support of Jock Zonfrillo’s family.”

Zonfrillo was farewelled by his Channel 10 family.

As fans wrestled with the reality that it might be quite difficult to watch this season, which was filmed in its entirety before Zonfrillo’s death, one fan on social media suggested viewers raise a glass in tribute to Zonfrillo when the show airs tonight.

“I propose a toast to Jock on Sunday 7th at 730pm and hope everyone will join me!” they wrote, a post that has attracted hundreds of likes as others vowed to do the same.

Zonfrillo’s death left fans and those in the industry shell-shocked, and among the most heartbreaking public tributes so far have come from Allen and their fellow MasterChef judge, Melissa Leong.

“This all feels too raw to process still, I suspect it will for some time. Such is the impact of a life lived so large, with so much levity and entirely on your own terms,” Leong wrote in a moving Instagram tribute to her colleague.

“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,” wrote Allen, before paying tribute to Zonfrillo’s wife Lauren and four children.

“I know you’ll be looking down on Loz, Ava, Sophia, Alfie & Isla. Give it up for Jock Zonfrillo.”