MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo dead: Channel Ten’s agonising decision
The launch of Masterchef’s 2023 season should have been a triumphant day for Network Ten, with the ratings powerhouse scoring world-renowned chef Jaime Oliver as the fourth judge.
But just hours before its scheduled premiere, news broke of the shocking death of Jock Zonfrillo, 46, who helped propel the show to new heights with fellow hosts Andy Allen and Melissa Leong since they came on board in 2019.
The Scottish-born chef and restaurateur was found around 2am on Monday at a hotel on Carlton’s Lygon Street in Melbourne, with the cause of death not revealed but not treated as suspicious by police.
Ten immediately postponed the premiere and the future of the network’s flagship, its most expensive and longest-running franchise, was thrown into uncertainty.
The network, whose PR juggernaut had been in full swing and bolstered by excited social media posts from Zonfrillo, Allen, Leong and Oliver, now had to look for a replacement.
Zonfrillo, who was back in Australia from Italy, where his young family had just moved, was about to gain publicity ahead of the Masterchef season 15 premiere
Sunfrillos and his co-stars (pictured here with guest judge Jamie Oliver) struggling to process the news
What did go on the air was the reality show The Bridge, which appeared on Ten-owner Paramount’s streaming service last year and drew a mediocre 223,000 viewers.
With Masterchef filling in large 90-minute blocks on Ten’s programming, The Bridge, which consists of just six one-hour episodes, will air in full on Thursday.
This means that Ten is faced with another decision as to what will air next week – whether that could be Masterchef or whether the program can air at all.
“Ten has to combine sympathy and respect with business and programming,” Sunrise entertainment editor Peter Ford said on Wednesday.
“They need to talk to Lauren (Fried, Jock’s wife) and find out where she is. They’ve got to have her there, they’ve got to make sure she wants that show on.”
“There is also a huge amount of revenue coming to the network in the coming weeks. They need to consult with Coles, who is the main sponsor.’
Ford said he “personally cannot see (Masterchef) from next week because, to be blunt, there will be a funeral.”
“A lot will happen in the next 48 hours,” he said.
The fifteenth season of MasterChef, starring Jamie Oliver (right) as a guest judge, was set to premiere Monday night on Ten.
Meanwhile, the tributes are pouring in for the popular Zonfrillo.
Jaime Oliver said he was “in shock.”
“We had the best time working together for this year’s master chef [sic]I can’t say how good it was to work with him!’
“Jock was very generous to me with his time and spirit on the show and I was very grateful for that.”
Sending heartfelt love and condolences to all his family, friends and his second family, the master chef team and contestants xxx. Love, Jamie.’
Fellow hosts Leong and Allen said they were impressed by the news.
“Still feels too raw to handle… You have shown me what true excellence looks like, both in the kitchen and beyond… My heart goes out to your family, who were and are your life,” Leong wrote.
As Allen said, “Sure, you’ve taught me so much about food, but it’s the lessons I’ve learned about what it means to be a great father, husband, and friend that I’ll take from our time together and for always will last’.
The Masterchef team finished production a month ago, but are now reportedly combing through every episode of the program to make sure nothing in it could disturb viewers.
A tribute to Zonfrillo is also reportedly being considered at the start of the season and possibly at the end of each episode.
For immediate support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Allen and Zonfrillo pose on the red carpet with their wives Alex (second, left) and Lauren (second, right)