Jock Zonfrillo dies: MasterChef drops ‘Secrets & Surprises’ tagline
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 made a last-minute subtle change to MasterChef this year following the tragic death of Jock Zonfrillo at the age of 46. Pictured LR Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen
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.
“I want to say I’m fine, but I’m not great,” Allen told Harris.
The network has decided to drop the show’s “Secrets & Surprises” tagline from its title, The Australian reported. The show’s producers are also working around the clock to rid the new season of any insensitive moments or comments
“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 it felt weird being on the MasterChef set without Zonfrillo before talking about the last time he saw him.
Thinking back to their last lunch together, he said, “We went to Tippo. 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 for the show’s premiere.
Ahead of the new season’s premiere on Sunday night, judge Andy Allen paid tribute to his co-star Zonfrillo on a special episode of The Sunday Project
Andy revealed that Zonfrillo was eager to return to Rome and start a new life with his family.
Andy confessed that a part of him felt guilty about not being there with Zonfrillo during his final moments.
When asked what he would miss most about Zonfrillo, 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 to 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 former MasterChef winner turned judge was heartbroken after his beloved co-star tragically passed away last week at the age of 46