Network 10 has confirmed the passing of Jock Zonfrillo aged 46. MasterChef Australia will not air this week.
This article will update with industry reactions to the news.
See Also: “An extraordinary man”: MasterChef’s Jock Zonfrillo passes away aged 46
A statement from Network 10 and Endemol Shine Australia reads: “Network 10 and Endemol Shine Australia are deeply shocked and saddened at the sudden loss of Jock Zonfrillo, a beloved member of the MasterChef Australia family. Jock passed away in Melbourne yesterday.
“Jock was known to Australians as a chef, best-selling author, philanthropist and MasterChef judge but he will be best remembered as a loving father, husband, brother and son.
“Determined and talented and with plenty of grit, Jock was born in Glasgow to an Italian father and a Scottish mother, which meant his formative years were heavily influenced by two strong cultures and it was his obsession with food and desire for a new pushbike that at just 12 years old fuelled Jock to knock on kitchen doors looking for a job.
“Jock’s love and passion for food saw him become one of the youngest culinary students to do an apprenticeship at The Turnberry Hotel at just 15 years of age. From that point onwards there was no holding him back and by 17 he was working alongside Marco Pierre White at his eponymous Restaurant Marco Pierre White.
“Throughout his career he worked with world famous chefs and in restaurants all over the world. His talent saw him shine in the world’s most formidable kitchens and he opened Bistro Blackwood and Restaurant Orana in Adelaide after moving to Australia.
“Jock’s Restaurant Orana was recognised with the coveted distinction of three hats in both 2019 and 2020 and he also received global accolades, accepting the prestigious Basque Culinary World Prize in 2018.
“In 2019, Jock was named as a judge on MasterChef Australia in which he took great pride in challenging and coaching the contestants and of course inspiring a nation of home cooks.
“Jock’s charisma, wicked sense of humour, generosity, passion and love for food and his family cannot be measured. He will be greatly missed.”
Beverley McGarvey, Executive Vice President, Paramount ANZ, said: “This is a terribly sad day for Jock’s family and friends, his Network 10 and Endemol Shine Australia colleagues and for MasterChef fans around Australia and the world.
“Jock Zonfrillo was an extraordinary man. He was a wonderful colleague and friend, and we feel very privileged to have had him play such an important and impactful role in MasterChef. Despite all his notable professional milestones, nothing brought him more joy or happiness than his family. Our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.”
Peter Newman, Chief Executive Officer, Endemol Shine Australia, said: “We are shocked and extremely saddened by the news of Jock’s passing. Jock was an incredible talent, not just as a renowned chef, but as someone who could bring joy into the homes of people in Australia and around the world in his role as judge on MasterChef Australia.
“On set he was loved by the team and his passion for food and the show was infectious. He was also a brilliant champion for the contestants on MasterChef, always wanting the very best for them. He will be deeply missed by the entire MasterChef team. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.”
On Twitter, Jimmy Barnes wrote: “It’s a very sad day. We’ve lost another dear friend. Jock was like a brother to me and we made each other laugh and cry. My heart goes out to his family. I am speechless Rest my friend xx”
Fellow celebrity chef and MasterChef Australia guest judge Jamie Oliver wrote: “In total shock to hear of the sudden death of chef Jock Zonfrillo. Had the best time working with him for this year’s @MasterChefAU. Jock was very generous with his time and spirit in the show and will be so very missed. Sending heart felt love and condolences to all of his family, friends and the MasterChef team and contestants. Love jo xxx”
Gordon Ramsay wrote: “Saddened by the devastating news of Jock Zonfrillo’s passing. I truly enjoyed the time we spent together on MasterChef in Australia. Sending all my love to Lauren and the family in this difficult time Gx”
Speaking to News Corp, celebrity chef and My Kitchen Rules judge Colin Fassnidge said “I’ve known Jock for 20 years since he worked at Level 41 and I worked at Bank and we were young chefs coming up.
“And then obviously we’ve lived very similar lives which we’d speak about – we’re chefs and on TV shows and all the travel.
“Every year we’d wish each other good luck even though we were on rival shows.
“The minute I got the news I called my wife and then the next person I spoke to was (fellow MKR judge) Manu (Feildel) – because he’s my work husband or wife.
“And he’s in shock. It’s been like losing a partner, you know.
“He was just normal – like the rest of us.
“He realised how lucky he was actually to be on MasterChef and what a good gig that was.
“I think he relished it. And chef wise he was one of the best, you know when he had Restaurant Orana.
“Look, I’m just still pretty in shock, like everybody else.
“One of my most favourite memories was dancing on his bar with Zonfrillo at Tasting Australia (festival in Adelaide).
“I had a very sore head the next day.
“We had a few whiskeys together, I loved hanging out with him when I was down in Adelaide.
“I’ll tell you another thing – he used to call me a cheeky f — ker, because every year I used to scribble out MasterChef and write MKR on all the pots and pans and the aprons at Coles. I’ve done it again this year.
“We got on well because we’re Celts. He’s Scottish and I’m Irish – we liked to drink hard and love hard.
“It’s just so sad – he’s got young kids, and I’ve got young kids.
“I just don’t know what to say.”
Speaking on The Project on Monday night, host Sarah Harris said: “It’s so hard to even kind of process it just yet because the news came through so late this afternoon.
“And as you said, the promos for MasterChef have been on air for weeks and everyone’s looking forward to this wonderful new season, but it’s more than that, I mean, this is a bloke who had four kids, young children as well, the youngest was two.”
“I remember on the many times that have popped into Studio 10 when I was hosting that show in the mornings.
“He was always so affable with the crew and would take time to talk to everyone he would always kind of get you get you to the side and show you pictures of his kids because he was just so immensely proud of them.
“And of his beautiful wife Lauren, he would say that she saved him in so many ways.
“He was never without his worry beads because – I love this about him – despite the fact that he was this kind of manly Scottish and drank whiskey that he was he knew that there was power in vulnerability and he really works to normalise anxiety.”
The Project also saw entertainment editor Angela Bishop spoke of how co-hosts Melissa Leong and Andy Allen were doing.
“They would work, 14, 15, 16-hour days together for weeks on end to do each season of MasterChef, you couldn’t find closer workmates and confidants than Andy, Jock and Mel,” Bishop said.
“They are devastated, broken is the word that was used to me.
“They’re simply like so many of us trying to process this news.”