The telling revelation in Jock Zonfrillo’s widow’s post about the new MasterChef line-up after Melissa Leong was axed – amid rumours of feud between three judges

Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren has reacted to MasterChef Australia’s new line-up following Melissa Leong’s departure from the hit cooking series.

The upcoming season will see new judges, series alum Poh Ling Yeow, Michelin star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and food critic Sofia Levin, join returning host Andy Allen.

Following the announcement, Lauren took to Instagram to say that Jock would be “very happy” with the new line-up, amid rumors of tension between her late husband, Leong and Allen.

In a lengthy post, she talked about Allen’s return and congratulated Poh and Jean-Christophe on their new roles, but in a somewhat telling way, she neglected to mention Leong’s departure or her work on the show.

‘This would make Jock very happy – @andyallencooks came into our lives unexpectedly four years ago. He quickly became Jock’s best friend, shared a passion for food and fun, and was someone who cared deeply about our family,” she began.

‘Andy walked back into the MasterChef Kitchen seven months ago to film his segment for Jock’s tribute show, literally just hours after I called him to tell him the news. He did that for Ava and me, for Jock, and as a gift for our little ones to look at in the future.”

She went on to say that Zonfrillo would be “super proud” to see Allen “now returning to the Masterchef kitchen with three new talented and friendly judges.”

She also seemed to take a dig at Leong when she said the new lineup “respected the privilege of being part of an extraordinary show.”

She continued: ‘This is a group of people who respect the privilege of being part of such an extraordinary show, they know they are stronger together than as individuals, and they want to nurture participants to pursue their dream of food as a career. into reality.’

‘You all have my absolute support – all I ask is that you continue to make fun of Andy, make him coffee so strong he walks onto set shaking, take him for a round of golf to blow off some energy. steam, and that you beat him in all the cooking competitions.’

She added: ‘Let’s make 2024 the best season of @masterchefau yet – get to know the judges, support the contestants and keep cooking!’

The announcement of the new line-up follows rumors of tensions between the three judges.

Eyebrows were raised when Leong did not take part in The Sunday Project’s moving tribute to Zonfrillo a week after his shocking death at the age of 46.

Allen and renowned chefs Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White and Curtis Stone all shared their memories in the heartbreaking special.

Conspicuously missing was Zonfrillo’s co-star Leong, who did not appear in the program.

“There was a very emotional tribute from Andy on The Project and it was surprising that Melissa wasn’t sitting next to him,” an insider told Daily Mail Australia.

‘You would think that they would tackle the media together. Especially since the company line was that they were all best friends.

“It was quite strange that Melissa went to the ground during this time and yet quite smart to maintain her decision to leave the program until now.”

A few weeks after The Project special, Leong explained that the grieving process has been quiet for her after she was criticized for not participating in a special tribute to the late co-star.

“We all deal with loss differently, and we need to honor that,” she wrote in a column for Stellar magazine.

“Some people need to talk to process emotions, while others need more time to find the words, if they can find them at all,” she continued.

‘Some people need company, while others need time alone to stare at a wall, incessantly clean or sleep.

“There is no right or wrong way to be in these moments, only what is true for you.”

Leong’s absence from the special also raised eyebrows among fans of the cooking show.

“Is it weird that Melissa isn’t part of this?” one person asked on Twitter, while several others replied.

“It’s a bit, yeah…” one person agreed, but others thought differently.

‘No? Everyone grieves differently. It may be too early for her to speak/open up. I hope she is doing well,” said one.

Another wrote: ‘Andy was having a hard enough time. I think Melissa just couldn’t do it. Everyone grieves differently, and people don’t talk about that grief until they’re ready (if that ever happens).”

Someone else said: ‘Not at all. If you’re not in the room to do it, you can’t do it,” while someone else agreed: “I don’t think she could do it. She was shattered.

“Maybe she’s still processing it and it would be too much for her,” said yet another.

Leong’s departure from the cooking show was announced on Monday – just a day before Channel Ten unveiled its 2024 programming during its Upfronts presentation.

She will star in a MasterChef spin-off series called Dessert Masters.

Popular judge Zonfrillo died in his hotel room at Zagame’s House on Lygon Street in Carlton, Melbourne.

He was found by police at around 2am on Monday, May 1, the same day Channel Ten was due to premiere the fifteenth season of MasterChef Australia.

He is survived by his third wife Lauren, and his four children: adult daughters Ava and Sophia from his first two marriages and Alfie and Isla with Lauren.