MasterChef’s ratings best as Aussies celebrate Jock Zonfrillo’s life

MasterChef Australia’s emotional first episode featuring the late Jock Zonfrillo was a ratings winner for Ten.

MasterChef has swept Sunday night’s ratings with its delayed first episode of the new series finishing the night the top show behind news, with 761,000 metro viewers tuning in to see the late Jock Zonfrillo in what will be his final season as judge.

It was the most viewers to tune into a MasterChef premiere since 2020, which attracted 1.23 million viewers. That was the year Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen took over hosting and judging duties on the fan favourite series, and it debuted in the middle of the first lockdown.

The 2021 premiere was watched by 670,000 viewers while the 2022 one had 545,000 viewers.

Ten dominated the capital cities ratings with The Project: A Tribute to Jock attracting 610,000 viewers who watched the emotional, respectful, and, at times, heartbreaking special to the late celebrity chef as friends, mentors and colleagues such as Jamie Oliver, Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay and his fellow judge Andy Allen shared stories and broke down over the sudden loss of Zonfrillo last Monday.

Chef Jamie Oliver appears on the first episode of MasterChef with judges Jock Zonfrillo, Andy Allen and Melissa Leong.

Seven’s Farmer Wants a Wife drew 609,000 in the all-important metro market, with Nine’s once juggernaut Lego Masters: Grand Champions bringing up the rear in the reality ratings battle with 567,000.

Social media was full of praise for the way the network and The Project team handled the tribute to the father of four who was found dead in his hotel room in Melbourne on April 30. And most found it bittersweet to see Zonfrillo in his element as he and fellow judges Allen and Melissa Leong welcomed UK uber chef Jamie Oliver to the MasterChef kitchen.

One posted: “So lovely to see Jock in his element tonight. My heart goes out to his beautiful family, Thank you for sharing him with us.”

While another wrote: “It was a hard first episode. Especially after The Project special episode. My mum and I couldn’t stop saying now he isn’t there, just his memories.”

While others posted on The Project special episode, including one who wrote: “Man this is hard to watch. He was obviously so kind to so many. I’ve never cried so hard for someone I’ve never met.”

“Thank you for sharing a beautiful and moving tribute for Jock. My husband and I have really appreciated Jock on MasterChef these last few years. His sudden passing took us by surprise. He will be mnissed. Being able to view The Project’s tribute felt like we were able to be part of a wake or send off for him and to take a moment to honour him.”

JOCK’S FAMILY ‘HURTING, OVERWHELMED’

Zonfrillo’s family has been “overwhelmed” by the outpouring of support for the MasterChef judge.

Speaking in a special tribute episode of The Sunday Project, ahead of the launch of the new MasterChef series that features Zonfrillo, fellow judge and mate Andy Allen gave some insight into how the family is doing.

Allen said he had caught up with Zonfrillo’s wife Lauren and their children last week and cooked for them.

“They just wanted me to say how much they can feel the support for Jock and themselves,” he said.

“They’re hurting but it does help. They’ve been overwhelmed with so much support. They just wanted for me to say they feel it. It’s tough but they feel it.

An emotional Andy Allen speaks with Project host Sarah Harris. Picture: Channel 10

Project host Sarah Harris asked if Lauren was okay.

“No, she’s the strongest woman I’ve ever met, but she’s lost her best friend,” Allen said

Allen last saw his mate at a three-hour lunch on the Saturday before Zonfrillo was found dead.

The MasterChef series had been due to launch that weekend but was delayed out of respect to the popular judge.

“He was so excited about Monday and that he was also so excited to get back over to Rome, he couldn’t wait just to start that with his family,” he said.

Andy Allen speaks on the Sunday Project. Picture: Channel 10

Allen choked up again as he said it wished it was Lauren and the kids having lunch with Zonfrillo that day rather than him.

“I would give anything to swap positions with him – it was still so nice to see him one last time,” he said.

Allen said he’d miss everything about his friend.

“I probably spend more time with him than my wife when we film,” Allen said.

Jock with his family in a picture showed on the Sunday Project. Picture: Channel 10

“He was so big on advice – he was that Scottish bloke, hard as nails, drinks whisky but was just a vulnerable person and opens up his emotions.

“Oh this hard – I go from the past to present tense and pick myself up on that – it is so fresh still.”

Allen said Zonfrillo taught him to be vulnerable and show his emotions,

“He’d be up there going ‘I did an all right job because you are a mess’,” he said.

Allen said it would be hard to watch the first episode of MasterChef, which aired after the tribute special – but he would do it.

Gordon Ramsey was overcome with emotion. Picture: Channel 10

“He’d want that – and it’s not about me – it’s about him,” he said.

Allen revealed Zonfrillo had watched the first episode and was excited proclaiming it the best first episode he had ever seen.

“He said that while we were smashing some pasta, he is critical so when he says it’s the best it is the best,” he said.

Allen was joined by the titans of the food industry who also broke down as they paid tribute to their friend and colleague Zonfrillo.

Jock Zonfrillo and Jamie Oliver. Picture: Facebook

Fellow Scot Gordon Ramsay could not hold back the tears.

“The ripples have been devastating, no one is going to get over this for a long long time. It’s just so painful,” he said.

Jamie Oliver, who recorded two episodes of this season’s MasterChef with Zonfrillo and his fellow judges, Maggie Beer, Matt Moran, Nigella Lawson, Curtis Stone and Shannon Bennett were all visibly emotional as they remembered him.

Jamie Oliver. Picture: Channel 10

Marco Pierre White remembered his former apprentice as a kind man and as someone who stood for excellence.

“He turned everything on its head in the most magical and delicious way – Some of the best meals I ever had in Australia were cooked by Jock,” he said.

“Jock Zonfrillo will never die. He will live on through everyone he touches, and everyone who watches that show – a little piece of him will be instilled in them.”

Marco Pierre White. Picture: Channel 10

The tribute ended with another famous great mate of Zonfrillo, Jimmy Barnes, who was supported by his clan and sang a moving rendition of Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond.

“We love you Jock,” Barnes said as a bagpiper played the haunting refrain overlaid with pictures from Jock’s amazing life.

The first episode of the new season of MasterChef aired right after the tribute on Sunday night.

Jimmy Barnes and band. Picture: Channel 10

Endemol Shine and Network 10 paid tribute to their star with message at the beginning of the show reading:

“It is with deep sadness that Network 10 and the MasterChef family acknowledge the sudden and tragic passing of judge Jock Zonfrillo. This season of MasterChef Australia was completed in March 2023 and we would like to dedicate it to Jock and his family. Please enjoy this as a celebration of his work, life and irrepressible passion for food.”

MasterChef Australia, Sunday – Thursday, Ten

Originally published as MasterChef’s ratings best as Aussies celebrate Jock Zonfrillo’s life