Channel 10 cancels MasterChef Australia as judge Jock Zonfrillo dies age 46 on eve of the premiere

Channel Ten has announced that MasterChef Australia is being postponed following the shocking death of judge Jock Zonfrillo at the age of 46.

The cooking show’s fifteenth season was set to premiere on Monday, but Ten has confirmed it won’t air this week due to Zonfrillo’s passing.

The Scottish-Australian chef has hosted the popular show since 2019 alongside Andy Allen and Melissa Leong.

His family confirmed that he had passed away in Melbourne on Sunday at the age of 46.

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.

No cause of death has been disclosed.

“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.”

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.”

The cooking show’s fifteenth season was set to premiere on Monday, but Channel Ten has confirmed it won’t air this week due to Zonfrillo’s passing.

Channel Ten and production company Endemol Shine Australia said in a statement: “[We] are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden loss of Jock Zonfrillo, a beloved member of the MasterChef Australia family.

Jock passed away in Melbourne yesterday. Jock was known to Australians as a chef, best-selling author, philanthropist and MasterChef judge, but he will be best remembered as a loving father, husband, brother and son.

Determined and talented and with a lot of perseverance, Jock was born in Glasgow to an Italian father and a Scottish mother, which meant his formative years were heavily influenced by two strong cultures and it was his obsession with food and desire for a new balance bike that at just 12 years old, prompted Jock to knock on kitchen doors looking for a job.

Jock’s love and passion for food saw him become one of the youngest culinary students to intern at The Turnberry Hotel at just 15 years old. From that moment on there was no stopping him and at the age of 17 he worked together with Marco Pierre White in his eponymous restaurant Marco Pierre White.

The Scottish-Australian chef has hosted the popular show since 2019 alongside Andy Allen and Melissa Leong

Throughout his career, he worked with world-renowned chefs and in restaurants around the world. His talent saw him shine in the world’s most formidable kitchens and he opened Bistro Blackwood and Restaurant Orana in Adelaide after moving to Australia.

Jock’s Restaurant Orana was recognized with the coveted three hats award in both 2019 and 2020 and he also received global accolades, taking home the prestigious Basque Culinary World Prize in 2018.

In 2019, Jock was appointed a judge at MasterChef Australia, taking pride in challenging and coaching the contestants and of course inspiring a nation of home chefs.

Jock’s charisma, wicked sense of humour, generosity, passion and love for food and his family are beyond measure. He will be sorely missed.’

Zonfrillo’s family confirmed that he had passed away in Melbourne on Sunday at the age of 46

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)

Zonfrillo overcame a heroin addiction as a teenager in Glasgow and became one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs.

He was known as the former head chef of Sydney’s Restaurant 41 and for opening the award-winning Restaurant Orana and Street ADL in Adelaide.

In 2018, the year before he joined MasterChef, he was named Australia’s Hottest Chef by the Australian newspaper.

That year Orana was also named Australia’s best restaurant by the Good Food Guide.

Restaurant Orana closed its doors in 2020 when it went into voluntary administration with debts totaling $3.2 million.