How chef Jock Zonfrillo’s shock death will impact new season of MasterChef Australia

MasterChef Australia’s season premiere was delayed following Jock Zonfrillo’s shock death, so what does that mean for the rest of the series?

The new season of MasterChef Australia was due to premiere on Monday night, however due to the sudden death of judge Jock Zonfrillo, the show has been postponed for one week.

The celebrated chef died on Sunday aged 46, but his death was only made public yesterday, five hours before the 15th season of the hugely popular cooking show was due to commence. No cause of death has yet been publicly released.

Following his shock passing, the immediate fate of the show was brought into question. Season 15 had just wrapped production at Melbourne’s Flemington MasterChef HQ last month and was ready to air. The series – which typically runs over 62 episodes – reportedly cost Network 10 millions to make, so it appears the show will still go ahead.

MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo passed away on Sunday, aged 46. Picture: Ten

Chef Jamie Oliver (far right) is due to make a guest appearance on this season’s MasterChef Australia. Picture: Instagram

However, according to the Daily Telegraph, some changes and edits will need to be made to ensure nothing “will distress viewers and more pertinently, family and close friends”.

“There is really no precedent for this,” a well-placed TV executive told the publication. “Word is that the show will continue, it really is a matter of what, how and when so that it is appropriately respectful to the family and to viewers.”

The executive said that a “tribute special” will likely air in the first episode and, in terms of the show’s future, producers will reportedly find a new judge to replace Zonfrillo on the panel alongside Melissa Leong and Andy Allen for future seasons.

MasterChef Judges Andy Allen, Melissa Leong anf Jock Zonfrillo. Picture: Ten

Last night on The Project, Network 10’s entertainment editor Angela Bishop said Leong and Allen were heartbroken over the death of their friend and colleague and were still “trying to process the news”.

“They would work 16 hours days together for MasterChef, you couldn’t find closer work mates and confidantes,” Bishop said. “They are devastated, ‘broken’ is the word descried to me, they are trying to process this news.”

The rest of the crew at MasterChef Australia is also coming to terms with Zonfrillo’s passing, with a note on its official Instagram page reading: “Jock’s charisma, wicked sense of humour, generosity, passion and love for food and his family cannot be measured. He will be greatly missed.”