The Project pays tribute to Masterchef host Jock Zonfrillo

Sarah Harris has led a touching tribute for Jock Zonfrillo on The Project, choking back tears as she remembered the famed chef.

Sarah Harris led a touching tribute for celebrity chef Jock Zonfrillo on Monday night’s episode of The Project, choking back tears as she remembered moments spent with the Network 10 star.

Harris said the he MasterChef star would drop into Studio 10 regularly and she remembered how he was always an inviting and warm personality.

“I remember on the many times he popped into Studio 10 when I was hosting that show in the mornings, he was always so affable with the crew, and would take time to talk to everyone,” she said.

“He would always get you to the side and show you pictures of his kids, because he was just so immensely proud of them and of his beautiful wife, Lauren. He would say she saved him, in so many ways. He was never without his worry beads.

“And I love this about him, despite the fact that he was this kind of manly Scot, and drank whiskey, he knew there was power in vulnerability, and he really worked to normalise anxiety, and he said he would keep those beads on him at all times, and pressed the beads when the anxiety got too much.”

Harris remembered Zonfrillo for his “wicked sense of humour”, passion and generosity, noting that he would always make a perfect coffee for guests on the show.

“He did lots of kind stuff. Lots of thoughtful things. Big and small. Whenever a guest chef was on Masterchef he made every guest chef or guest a coffee and has to make it perfectly,” she said.

“He’s a perfectionist. You are in hair and make up and he’s whipping up a coffee for anyone. He had a wicked sense of humour.”

Sarah Harris has led a touching tribute for Jock Zonfrillo on Monday night’s episode of The Project, choking back tears as she remembered moments spent with the Network 10 star.

Co-host Jessie Stephens noted that Zonfrillo was meant to be on the show this evening to promote the launch of the latest season of Masterchef.

“To compound the shock, he was someone who was meant to be on the desk tonight discussing Masterchef. It‘s just really difficult to get your head around,” she said.

Ten’s entertainment editor Angela Bishop said the tragedy marked a “loss of a member of the family here at 10”.

Waleed Aly commented on the fact Zonfrillo wasn’t your cut-and-dry media personality, remembering that his “gentle soul” stood out in previous encounters.

Jock Zonfrillo was discovered by police at 2am on Monday at a hotel on one of Melbourne’s Lygon Street.

“In this industry, it is fair to say not everyone is gentle, that is not the personality that tends to be an advantage, but that’s what I thought,” he said.

“There is a time that he was here in this chair, and that was the thing that really stood out to me, there was just something about him. Vulnerable is the right word but it is something a bit deeper than that and he is a guy who has been through much.”

Zonfrillo was discovered by police at 2am on Monday at a hotel on one of Melbourne’s Lygon Street.

He died in the early hours of Monday morning at age 46.

He is survived by his wife Lauren and four children Ava, Sophie, Alfie and Isla.

Jock Zonfrillo, celebrity chef and beloved judge on MasterChef Australia, has died aged 46. pic.twitter.com/lvUqdUFRDH

— The Project (@theprojecttv) May 1, 2023