MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen has paid an emotional tribute to his late colleague Jock Zonfrillo on a special episode of The Sunday Project, one week after Zonfrillo’s untimely death at the age of 46.
Jock Zonfrillo’s body was found in a Melbourne hotel room just hours before the new season of MasterChef Australia was scheduled to air.
During his conversation with The Project co-host Sarah Harris, Allen recounted a three-hour lunch he had shared with Zonfrillo the day before his passing. Allen described Zonfrillo as being in good spirits and excited about the show’s launch. He also expressed guilt that Zonfrillo’s wife, Lauren Fried, and their young children, who were in Rome at the time, were not present for that final meal.
Allen praised Lauren as “the strongest woman I have ever known” and acknowledged the pain she must be feeling, having lost her best friend and knowing their daughters will miss out on significant life events with their father.
In addition to being his best mate, Allen shared that Zonfrillo had been a mentor to him and described the couple as family. He credited Zonfrillo with teaching him to embrace vulnerability and show his emotions. Allen admitted that his friend’s death had hit him “like a tonne of bricks” and that he was struggling to come to terms with the loss.
World-renowned chefs Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White also appeared on the special edition of The Project to honour Zonfrillo’s life, discussing his culinary prowess and his warm presence on screen. Ramsay spoke fondly of his time working with Zonfrillo on MasterChef Australia, calling it “electrifying” and “encouraging”. He acknowledged the devastating impact of Zonfrillo’s passing on the culinary community, describing the loss as something no one will “get over quickly”.
Pierre White emphasised that Zonfrillo’s spirit would live on through everyone he had touched, stating,
“Jock Zonfrillo will never die. He will live on through everyone he touched… and everybody who watches that show, a little piece of him will be still in there. That’s the truth.”
Masterchef Australia continues Monday May 8 on Channel 10 and 10play
If you, or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress, help is available. Please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Absolutely amazing. great 1st ep it was 😘😘