Nigella Lawson shares grief for late Jock Zonfrillo and says she ‘can’t stop thinking of his family’
Nigella Lawson has expressed her grief for the late MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo.
The Scottish-Australian chef was found dead by police at around 2am on Monday at a hotel on Lygon Street in Carlton, Melbourne, aged 46.
Lawson, 63, posted a statement on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon sharing her “deepest” condolences to Zonfrillo’s family, including his four children.
“I can’t stop thinking about Jock Zonfrillo’s children, his family,” the former My Kitchen Rules judge tweeted.
“So many are plunged into the deepest sorrow. My heart goes out to them. And I hope their wishes for privacy are respected.’
Nigella Lawson (left) has expressed her grief for the late MasterChef star Jock Zonfrillo (right)
The British food writer was set to work with Zonfrillo on Channel 10’s MasterChef in 2020 as a guest judge, but had to give up due to the Covid pandemic.
A year later, Lawson appeared on the show via video link as the contestants battled it out in a pressure test.
Police found Zonfrillo’s body at Zagame’s House hotel around 2 a.m. Monday after being called for a welfare check.
No cause of death has been released, but police say his death is not being treated as suspicious. A report is being prepared for the coroner.
Lawson, 63, posted a statement on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon sharing her “deepest” condolences to Zonfrillo’s family, including his four children
The British food writer was set to join Zonfrillo in 2020 on Channel 10’s MasterChef as a guest judge, but had to give up due to the Covid pandemic
His death came as the 15th season of MasterChef, starring Jamie Oliver as a guest judge, was set to premiere Monday night on Ten, but has since been postponed out of respect for Zonfrillo’s family.
Zonfrillo is survived by his third wife, Lauren Fried, and his four children: teenage daughters Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages, and six-year-old Alfie and two-year-old 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.
His death came as the 15th season of MasterChef, starring Jamie Oliver as a guest judge, was set to premiere Monday night on Channel Ten, but has since been postponed out of respect for Zonfrillo’s family.
‘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.
“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 co-hosted the popular Channel 10 cooking show MasterChef Australia in 2019 with Andy Allen and Melissa Leong.
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.
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Zonfrillo is survived by his third wife, Lauren Fried, and his four children: teenage daughters Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages, and six-year-old Alfie and two-year-old Isla, with Fried. (Zonfrillo, Fried, and their two children are seen here in a recent family photo)