MasterChef remains in doubt after Ten and EndemolShine fail to make a decision on the show’s future from Zonfrillo’s death

The future of the long-running television series will be decided within days following the shock death of co-host Jock Zonfrillo.

MasterChef hosts Andy Allen (left) and Jock Zonfrillo are seen in the Birdcage during last year’s Melbourne Cup carnival. Picture: Jason Edwards

The future of Network Ten’s MasterChef series remains in turmoil following the sudden death of Jock Zonfrillo as executives struggle to decide whether it should ever be aired.

It is understood filming for the program finished just four weeks ago but representatives at both Ten and production house EndemolShine remained tight-lipped on Tuesday about the future of the show’s 15th series.

Sources told The Australian executives are closely working with Zonfrillo’s family on whether the show should be broadcast.

The television chef’s wife, Lauren, and two young children who were overseas at the time of his death, are reportedly en route back to Australia.

Zonfrillo, whose death was not suspicious, was found deceased at a hotel apartment at Carlton in Melbourne’s inner-north in the early hours of Monday morning after a call was made to do a welfare check at the location.

The reality TV cooking series was due to begin airing on Monday night and Zonfrillo, who is a father of four, had numerous publicity commitments scheduled for that day and it wasn’t until later on Monday the news broke of his shock death.

The show’s co-host Andy Allen shared a series of personal photos and memories with the Scotsman on Monday on social media.

He wrote, “thanks for making me constantly laugh and being there when I needed to cry.”

“When I met you 5 years ago I knew our lives were about to change forever. What I didn't realise is how close Alex and I would become outside of the kitchen with you, Lauren and your kids,” he posted on Instagram.

“You’ve become such an inspirational and important part of our lives. Sure, you’ve taught me so much about food, but it’s the lessons I learnt about what it means to be a great father, husband and friend that I’ll take away from our time together and will last forever.”

In a video he posted, Zonfrillo can be seen tying Allen’s restaurant’s Three Blue Ducks apron around his young son Alfie.

“You’re one of the ducks now,” Zonfrillo says as his son laughs.

The show’s other co-host, Melissa Leong also posted a tribute to the Scotsman on social media and wrote: “I could have never guessed how much of an impact your arrival on my life would have, or that we would be saying goodbye so soon.

“You were always supposed to be the bulletproof one who outlived us all”.

Zonfrillo became head chef at award-winning Sydney restaurant Forty One in 2000, but was sacked two years later after setting fire to an apprentice chef’s pants for working too slowly.

He was sued for $75,000 by Martin Krammer, the 18-year-old apprentice chef, following what Zonfrillo called a joke gone wrong.

After Zonfrillo failed to pay the damages, Mr Krammer obtained a bankruptcy order against him.

In 2020 Zonfrillo voted to pay major creditors of his failed Adelaide restaurants, Orana and Blackwood Bistro, five and 10 cents in the dollar instead of being placed into liquidation or declaring bankruptcy in 2020.

A majority of creditors voted to accept a deed of company arrangement that would see him pay $90,000 to settle his debts.

The landlord for both businesses, in Adelaide’s East End located in the CBD, claimed they were owed about $307,000 but instead would have received between $20,000 and $30,000 under the agreement.

The meeting was told Zonfrillo had no substantial assets at the time.

A spokeswoman for Victoria’s Coroner’s Court told The Australian the death of Zonfrillo had been referred to the agency for “coronial investigation”.

“As this is an active investigation, no further comment can be made,” she said.