MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo posted a photo promoting the brand new season of the Channel 10 show just hours before his death.
Zonfrillo died in Melbourne at the age of 46, his family has confirmed.
A Victoria Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia they found Zonfrillo’s body at about 2am Monday, after being called to an address on Lygon Street in Carlton for a welfare check.
On Sunday, Zonfrillo uploaded a photo of British chef Jamie Oliver to promote the fifteenth season of MasterChef, which was set to premiere Monday night.
The show has now been postponed in the wake of his death.
MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo posted a photo promoting the brand new season of the Channel 10 show just hours before his death
Zonfrillo died in Melbourne at the age of 46, his family has confirmed. A Victoria Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia they found Zonfrillo’s body around 2am Monday, after being called to an address on Lygon Street in Carlton for a welfare check.
It’s time for @masterchefau to kick off another season of Secrets & Surprises! And @jamieoliver of course!’ Zonfrillo wrote about a photo of Oliver on set in Melbourne.
Still unaware of his co-star’s death on Monday morning, Oliver shared the same photo and footage along with the MasterChef judges to promote the new season.
“So fast to this year’s big day, MasterChef will blow your mind,” he wrote.
Oliver also shared a video of him talking to the camera and urging his Australian fans to get involved.
Still unaware of his co-star’s death on Monday morning, Oliver shared the same photo and footage along with the MasterChef judges to promote the new season
“So fast to this year’s big day, MasterChef will blow your mind,” he wrote
Meanwhile, Melissa Leong gave an interview about her friendship with Zonfrillo just hours before his death was confirmed Monday.
Leong was also unaware of his passing when she spoke to HIT WA Breakfast with Allan and Carly around 8am on Monday morning.
The 41-year-old appeared on the show to promote MasterChef’s fifteenth season, which was set to premiere Monday night before being canceled following Zonfrillo’s death.
Leong spoke fondly of eating contests with Zonfrillo on the set of MasterChef, telling the radio hosts, “Over the years I was a very competitive eater, especially with Jock.”
“And I learned very quickly not to try to keep up with Jock, because then you lose. He has hollow legs and can eat at a speed and volume that defies physics, logic and science. It’s just not… you don’t understand,” she joked.
Melissa Leong, 41, (pictured) gave an interview about her friendship with fellow MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo just hours before his death was confirmed Monday
She explained that Zonfrillo, who has always been slim, would “eat all day long” during filming both on set and off set.
Leong went on to praise Zonfrillo for his many talents, gushing, “He’s freakishly talented, super sweet, really funny, totally handsome, rocks a three-piece suit like no other, and he can eat for days.”
“It’s outrageous,” she mused.
Leong spoke fondly of having eating competitions with Zonfrillo on the set of MasterChef, telling the radio hosts, “Over the years I was a very competitive eater, especially with Jock”
The Scottish-Australian chef and restaurateur became host of MasterChef Australia in 2019 alongside Allen and Leong.
Zonfrillo is survived by his third wife, Lauren Fried, and his four children: Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages, and Alfie and Isla, with Fried.
His death is not being treated as suspicious. A report is being prepared for the coroner.
No cause of death has been disclosed.
The Scottish-Australian chef and restaurateur became host of MasterChef Australia in 2019 alongside Allen and Leong. (Pictured: Zonfrillo with fellow MasterChef judges Andy Allen and Melissa Leong at the AACTA Awards on Dec. 7)
“With hearts completely shattered and with no way of knowing how to go through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday,” his family said in a statement Monday.
“There are so many words to describe him, so many stories to be told, but right now we are too overwhelmed to put them into words.
“For those who crossed his path, became his mate or were lucky enough to be his family, keep this proud Scotsman in your heart when you have your next whisky.”
Zonfrillo is survived by his third wife, Lauren Fried, and his four children: Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages, and Alfie and Isla, with Fried. (Zonfrillo with Fried and their two children can be seen here in a recent family photo)
They continued, “We beg you to please let us grieve in private as we find a way to navigate this, and find space on the other side to celebrate our irreplaceable husband, father, brother, son and friend.”
Zonfrillo, who began his career working for Michelin-starred chef Marco Pierre White in the UK, famously overcame a heroin addiction during his teenage years in Glasgow before becoming one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs.
He became the executive chef of Sydney’s Restaurant 41 in the year 2000 and opened the award-winning Restaurant Orana in Adelaide in 2013.
An emotional Colin Fassnidge said fellow chefs are struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of his friend and fellow chef Jock Zonfrillo.
“With hearts completely shattered and with no way of knowing how to go through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday,” his family said in a statement.
Fassnidge, who appeared on My Kitchen Rules and Kitchen Nightmares, has been friends with Zonfrillo for 20 years and admitted he struggled to come to terms with the tragic news.
‘It’s so shocking. I’m sitting on a rock right now trying to take it in, I don’t know what to say. I’m floored.
“I had to call my wife as soon as I heard.”
Fassnidge said there was no indication anything was wrong with Zonfrillo, and the news came as a complete surprise.
“He flew, he did great, he had a great show, he became world champion.
“Jock was normal, he was healthy and he lived a good life.
“I just feel so sorry for his other half.”
Fassnidge said Zonfrillo’s passing has turned the hospitality industry upside down.
“We’re all competing in the ratings, but we’re all one big family in hospitality,” he said.
‘On a certain level, all the chefs know each other.
An emotional Colin Fassnidge said fellow chefs are struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of his friend and fellow chef Jock Zonfrillo.
‘Everyone is calling. Everyone knows that the whole community is in shock.’
Fassnidge said he and Zonfrillo became good friends because they looked alike.
“He’s a different version of me. He likes a joke. He used to love the whiskey, he’s just a great TV presenter and a great cook.
“I don’t know what I think yet, we were rivals and we were friends.”
