'Irreplaceable' Masterchef judge Jock Zonfrillo dies at 46

The much-loved Masterchef Australia judge, Jock Zonfrillo has died at just 46 years old.

MasterChef Australia's 15th season was to begin on May 1st, and many were excited about the dawn of a new season. The first show will now no longer air in light of the tragic news.

Image: Masterchef Australia / Network 10

The show tweeted: "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."

Image: Instagram

Zonfrillo was found in a home in Melbourne in the early hours of Monday morning when police conducted a welfare check. According to the BBC, Victoria Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious.

His wife, Lauren Fried and children have said they are 'shattered' hearing the shocking news, confirming the death of the chef and judge in a statement on social media.

"With completely shattered hearts and without knowing how we can possible move through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday," the family wrote. "So many words can describe him, so many stories can be told, but at this time we're too overwhelmed to put them into words."

"For those who crossed his path, became his mate, or were lucky enough to be his family, keep this proud Scot in your hearts when you have your next whisky."

The Scottish chef and judge had been part of Masterchef Australia since 2019 after a successful cooking career. He moved to Australia in 2000, opening several restaurants.

Image: Masterchef Australia / Network 10

His most famous restaurant was the highly-popular Restaurant Orana, an award winning establishment in Adelaide. It opened in 2013 and sadly closed in 2020.

Image: Masterchef Australia / Network 10

The chef was well-known in the business, having worked for Michelin-starred British chef Marco Pierre White at his famous Hyde Park Hotel. His life was not without controversy, however, and the chef suffered at the hands of substance abuse.

As reported by the BBC, Zonfrillo worked in kitchens from the age of 12. He then became broke, homeless and addicted to heroin in his teenage years. In 2021, he wrote a memoir, 'Last Shot' which detailed his harrowing experiences.

However, the memoir didn't go down too well after the content was questioned by Pierre White. The renowned chef said that “almost everything he has written about me is untrue” about Zonfrillo's time in London in the 1990s.

But the Guardian quotes Zonfrillo as saying there was no embellishment “There’s no question that some of my book makes me look pretty unsavoury at the best of times. I carry the shame from those years, not pride, and it was a big obstacle for me to overcome when writing this book.”

His move to Australia was a pinnacle moment in his life and he began to gain respect from others in the culinary world, making friends along the way. Friends who are devastated at his loss.

Fellow Scot and Masterchef judge Gordon Ramsay tweeted: "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".

Due to appear in the upcoming season of Masterchef Australia, Jamie said: "I’m in total shock to wake up to the sudden death of chef Jock Zonfrillo. We had the best time working together for this years master chef, I can’t tell how good it was to work with him!"

Nigella Lawson also penned a heartfelt note on Twitter: "My deepest, deepest sympathies and much love to Jock’s family and friends. How devastating. How unbearable. My heart goes out to you."

Network 10 also paid tribute, citing that Zonfrillo's charisma, passion and wicked sense of humour had inspired a nation of home cooks. The charismatic Masterchef judge will be missed by friends, family and many fans of the show.