Channel Ten is making a last-minute subtle change to MasterChef this year following Jock Zonfrillo’s tragic death at age 46
Channel Ten has dropped the slogan ‘Secrets & Surprises’ from the new season of MasterChef Australia following the unexpected death of judge Jock Zonfrillo.
Recent seasons of MasterChef have been known to use slogans to mark gimmicks or format changes, including Back to Win (season 12) and Fans & Favorites (season 14).
But ‘Secrets & Surprises’ has been removed from all promotional materials for Season 15 out of respect for the Scottish-born celebrity chef, reports The Australian.
Production company Endemol Shine is also working around the clock to strip the new season of any references that may seem insensitive in light of Zonfrillo’s death.
An insider said the changes made to the show “will not be too heavy-handed” and “try to stay true” to Zonfrillo’s persona.
Channel Ten has dropped the slogan ‘Secrets & Surprises’ from the new season of MasterChef Australia following the unexpected death of judge Jock Zonfrillo. (Pictured from left: Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen)
Recent seasons of MasterChef have been known to use slogans to mark gimmicks or format changes, including Back to Win (season 12) and Fans & Favorites (season 14). But ‘Secrets & Surprises’ has been removed from all promotional materials for Season 15 out of respect for the Scottish-born celebrity chef. (Pictured: A commercial for MasterChef aired on Channel Ten last Monday, before news of Zonfrillo’s death broke)
MasterChef’s major sponsors, including Coles and Leggo’s, have also said they will continue to support the program this year following Zonfrillo’s passing.
Season 15 was supposed to start on May 1, but was pushed back to May 7. The decision to postpone the show was made by Ten just hours after the restaurateur was found dead by police in a Melbourne hotel at 2am last Monday.
Ahead of Sunday’s rescheduled season premiere, fellow MasterChef judge Andy Allen paid tribute to his co-star on a special episode of The Sunday Project.
In his first interview since the shocking news, 35-year-old Allen sat down with Sarah Harris and spoke about the devastating impact of Zonfrillo’s death.
Production company Endemol Shine is also working around the clock to strip the new season of any references that may seem insensitive in light of Zonfrillo’s death.
“I want to say I’m fine, but I’m not great,” Allen told Harris.
“This hit me like a brick. He’s the heart and soul of this place… It’s hard for me to realize he’s really gone.”
Allen went on to say that it felt weird being on the MasterChef set without Zonfrillo before addressing the last time he saw him.
Thinking back to their last lunch together, he said, “We went to Tipo 00. He ordered the whole menu. We hadn’t seen each other in a while. It was good old catching up on what we’ve been doing, what we were excited about.”
Zonfrillo and his family had recently moved to Rome, while the MasterChef judge flew solo back to Melbourne ahead of the show’s premiere.
Ahead of Sunday night’s rescheduled season premiere, judge Andy Allen (left) paid tribute to his Zonfrillo co-star during a special episode of The Sunday Project
Allen said Zonfrillo was eager to return to Rome and start a new life with his family.
When asked what he would miss most about his mate, Allen said, “Everything.” I probably spend more time – in the six months we’re filming – with him than I do with my wife.
“I’m going to miss everything this man brought into my life… He couldn’t wait for Alex and I to have kids too. He always said I would make a great dad. And I wish he was there to see that.’
The MasterChef winner turned judge was heartbroken by Zonfrillo’s death at age 46
