MasterChef Australia Judge Jock Zonfrillo Dies Day Before New Season's Premiere

Jock Zonfrillo, MasterChef Australia host and judge, died on April 30 at the age of 46 in Melbourne. His death was announced by his family in an Instagram post.

File photo of chef Jock Zonfrillo

Jock Zonfrillo, MasterChef Australia host and judge, passed away on April 30 in Melbourne at the age of 46. His death was announced in an Instagram post by his family. As of now, no cause of death has been disclosed. The premiere of the 15th season, with guest judge Jamie Oliver, was scheduled for May 1 but has been postponed, according to Network 10, which produces the show in Australia.

The channel took to Twitter and posted: "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. MasterChef Australia will not air this week".

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.
MasterChef Australia will not air this week. pic.twitter.com/cmtDuJr19P

— MasterChef Australia (@masterchefau) May 1, 2023

Jock had been a guest participant in the show since 2019. In 2020, he co-hosted the show with former winner Andy Allen and food writer Melissa Leong.

Jock's family issued a statement on Instagram which read: "With completely shattered hearts and no idea how we will move forward in life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday. So many words can be used to describe him, and so many stories can be told, but we're too overwhelmed right now to put them into words. Keep this proud Scot in your hearts when you have your next whisky, for those who crossed his path, became his friend, or were lucky enough to be his family". 

"We implore you to please let us grieve privately 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," the statement read.

Jock was born in Scotland's Glasgow in 1976. Before moving to Australia in 1999, he worked under chef Marco Pierre White in London. In his memoir, which was published last year, Last Shot, the chef opened up about using heroin as a teenager, and shared his experience of dealing with drug addiction. Jock is survived by his wife, Lauren Fried, and four children.