MasterChef Australia reviews Jock Zonfrillo’s creepy latest Instagram post just hours before his death
MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo’s posted a photo promoting the brand new season of the Channel 10 show just hours before his death.
Zonfrillo passed away in Melbourne on Sunday at the age of 46, his family have confirmed.
The Scottish-Australian chef and restaurateur became host of the popular cooking show Channel 10 in 2019 alongside Andy Allen and Melissa Leong.
The 46-year-old 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’s posted a photo promoting the brand new season of the Channel 10 show just hours before his death
It’s time for @masterchefau to kick off another season of Secrets & Surprises! And @jamieoliver of course!’ Jock wrote about a photo of Oliver on set in Melbourne.
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.
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.
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)
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.
“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)
“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.
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.