Colleagues pay tribute to Jock Zonfrillo as network weighs when to ...

Jock Zonfrillo was scheduled to appear on The Project on Monday night ahead of the launch of the 15th season of MasterChef Australia. Instead, his colleagues at Ten paid tribute to the award-winning chef, whose body was discovered by police earlier that morning.

The Project host Sarah Harris said the news came through late in the afternoon. “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,” Harris said.

The Project’s audience grew by more than 300,000 viewers as fans turned on to hear the latest news, resulting in a bump to 767,000 nationally.

Ten staff were advised of the 46-year-old’s death in a network-wide email from management just minutes before the news was made public at 2.10pm.

“Network 10 and [production company] Endemol Shine Australia are deeply shocked and saddened at the sudden loss of Jock Zonfrillo, a beloved member of the MasterChef Australia family,” Ten said. “Jock passed away in Melbourne yesterday”.

Alongside Melissa Leong and Andy Allen, the Scottish-born chef was cast as a judge in 2019 after the first team of judges Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris quit over a pay dispute.

Endemol and Ten will need to find a new judge for the 2024 season, but the sensitive handling of the current season starring the late Zonfrillo is a priority.

The entire season has already been filmed, at Melbourne’s Flemington MasterChef headquarters, and the $250,000 prize awarded to one of the 18 contestants. Scrapping the multimillion-dollar production is not an option.

Following the wrap of the Secrets and Surprises series, Zonfrillo had been on vacation in Europe with his wife, Lauren, and two young children before returning to do publicity for the show. Zonfrillo is also father to two adult children.

The new series may screen as early as next week but will be edited to add tributes.

“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.”

On The Project, Waleed Aly said Zonfrillo had a gentle personality which was an unusual trait for someone in the entertainment industry.

“The thing that really stood out to me was that there’s just something about his vulnerability, but it’s something a bit deeper than that, and he’s a guy who’s been through so much,” Aly said.

Beverley McGarvey, the executive vice-president of Paramount ANZ – which owns Ten – said he 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.”

Ten had been airing previews of the show for several weeks and Zonfrillo had posted a promo to his Instagram the night before his death.

“The time has come for @masterchefau to kick off a new season filled with Secrets & Surprises! And @jamieoliver of course!” he wrote.

Zonfrillo’s body was discovered by police at 2am on Monday at a hotel in Lygon Street, Carlton, after a welfare check. Police will prepare a report for the coroner.