Channel Ten released a new trailer for MasterChef a few hours before the premiere of the new season on Sunday.
The network shared the trailer on Instagram with the three judges Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo.
Jock, whose tragic death last week left Australia and its global fan base in shock, laughed and smiled along with his co-stars as the song ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ played over the footage.
Season 15 of the show was set to launch on May 1, but was postponed after the Scottish chef was found dead by police in a Melbourne hotel at 2am last Monday.
Channel Ten confirmed it would postpone the show, revealing on Wednesday that it would air the series from Sunday with the support of Jock’s family.
Channel Ten released a new trailer for MasterChef starring Jock Zonfrillo on Sunday, just hours before the premiere of the new season
“With the full support of Jock Zonfrillo’s family, MasterChef Australia will air on Sunday 7th May at 7.30pm,” said a Channel 10 statement shared on Instagram on Wednesday.
“It is with Jock in our hearts that we cherish this season and remember the charismatic and big-hearted Judge and Chef we knew and loved,” it continued.
‘Jock will be remembered in the MasterChef Australia kitchen for years to come.’
The network added that a special edition of The Sunday Project will pay tribute to Jock from 6:30pm on Sunday before the new series airs.
“With contributions from friends he watched closely, the show will honor Jock by reflecting on his personal and professional life to celebrate his incredible achievements,” the statement continued.
Production on the 62-episode season wrapped up last month at MasterChef’s headquarters in Flemington, Melbourne.
Jock, whose tragic death last week left Australia and its global fanbase in shock, laughed and smiled along with his co-stars as the song ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ played over the footage.
The new season reportedly cost “millions” to make, and producers are now looking to make a special “tribute” episode to Zonfrillo before confirming his replacement.
The chef passed away at age 46, leaving behind his third wife, Lauren Fried, and his four children: adult daughters Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages, and six-year-old Alfie and two-year-old. Isla, with fried.
A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Police went to an address on Lygon Street for a welfare check and found a dead man at around 2am on 1 May.
The death of the 46-year-old man is not considered suspicious. A report is being prepared for the coroner.’
Zonfrillo filmed season 15 alongside fellow judges Leong and Allen, who both withdrew from their scheduled media interviews following his sudden death.
Allen and Leong were locked down last week for several TV and radio appearances to promote the launch of the culinary contest.
Season 15 of the show was set to start on May 1, but was postponed after the Scottish chef was found dead by police at a Melbourne hotel at 2am last Monday.
Channel Ten confirmed it would postpone the show, revealing on Wednesday that it would air the series from Sunday with the support of Jock’s family
The publicity blitz had already begun Monday morning hours before the network and production company Endemol Shine learned of Zonfrillo’s death.
Angela Bishop, the Channel 10 entertainment reporter, was a guest on Monday night’s The Project — where Zonfrillo was set to appear before his death — and said she’d heard his co-stars were struggling to process the news.
“It’s a loss of a family member here at 10… [He was] only 46. That’s why this is such a shocking piece of news,” Bishop said.
“As you say, together they would work 16 hours a day for MasterChef. You could not find closer colleagues and confidants.
“They’re devastated. ‘Broken’ is the word that is described to me. They are trying to process this news.’
Zonfrillo’s MasterChef colleagues didn’t seem to know he died until shortly before the news broke on Monday afternoon, as the publicity machine for the new season wasn’t moving until 11:30 a.m. when Leong posted a countdown to the premiere on her Instagram account.
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Zonfrillo’s MasterChef colleagues only seemed to know he died shortly before the news broke on Monday afternoon