MasterChef Australia’s Andy Allen tears up as he pays tribute to ‘great mate’ Jock Zonfrillo during emotional episode

MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen became visibly emotional during a heartbreaking segment on Wednesday’s show.

MasterChef Australia kicked off on Wednesday with a heartwarming tribute to the late Jock Zonfrillo.

Before the competition for the night began, the remaining contestants were asked to nominate their food heroes.

Everyone chose a family member, and then it came to Andy Allen who took a moment to pay tribute to his “late, great mate, Jock”.

The latest episode of MasterChef proved to be an emotional one for the judges. Picture: Channel 10.

He opened up about everything the late chef instilled in him, and quickly began welling up as his fellow judges rallied around him.

“Mine is my late great mate Jock,” he said, as tears began to form in his eyes.

“The time that we spent cooking in this kitchen and creating an energy where people like you could just reach for the stars and succeed in everything you do.

As fellow judge Poh Ling-Yeow placed her hand on his shoulder, he continued: “I learned so much about that from Jock and he taught me so much about being a good husband and being a good son, and one day hopefully being a good dad. So I miss him a lot.”

The 46-year-old died in Melbourne in the early hours of April 30 last year on the eve of the launch of the 15th season of MasterChef.

The judges rallied around Allen as he began to hold back tears. Picture: Channel 10.

Police were called to a hotel on Melbourne’s Lygon Street to perform a welfare check before they made the discovery.

Allen previously revealed that he decided to take part in the new series of MasterChef in memory of his late pal.

“It’s nearly a year. Sometimes it feels like yesterday and other times it feels like it was a long, long time ago,” Allen told the Carrie and Tommy Show.

“It was hard. It was really hard. I didn’t actually know if I was going to do it (MasterChef) again.

“It just felt so wrong to do it without him, because we just loved it so much together and walking back into that kitchen was huge.

Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo [pictured in 2022] were close pals before his tragic passing. Picture: Jason Edwards.

“My only fear was that I couldn’t do it and I couldn’t be what it needed me to be.”

Allen said while parts of filming where difficult, he knew he was honouring his friend by continuing on in his honour.

“It was … there was just this weight of grief over me,” he said. “I just didn’t know if I’d be able to get through it. I just didn’t know if I’d be able to do it justice, to give the show what it needed because there was so much grief attached to that kitchen.

“But I think it only lasted until … it was a hard first scene. I’m literally the only person in that kitchen. Just myself, no contestants.”

He added: “And I just couldn’t tell when it was going to hit me, but the grief just got to me.”

Originally published as MasterChef Australia’s Andy Allen tears up as he pays tribute to ‘great mate’ Jock Zonfrillo during emotional episode