"Shattered hearts": Culinary world mourns tragic death of Jock Zonfrillo
Jock Zonfrillo, celebrity chef and host of Masterchef Australia, has passed away at 46.
The entertainment and culinary industries are in mourning - and the fate of the hit cooking competition in question - as friends, family, and fans try to come to terms with their tragic loss.
The news was broken - and confirmed - with a statement from Zonfrillo’s family, who wrote of their devastation and “shattered hearts” as they faced life without him.
"With completely shattered hearts and without knowing how we can possibly move through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday," they 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.
"We implore you to please let us grieve privately as we find a way to navigate through this and find space on the other side to celebrate our irreplaceable husband, father, brother, son and friend."
Zonfrillo’s body was reportedly discovered by police after they were called to a Carlton address at around 2am for a welfare check.
It has been said that Zonfrillo had flown home early from a trip to Europe with his wife, Lauren, and their two young children - two-year-old Isla and five-year-old Alfie - ahead of the season 15 Masterchef Australia launch.
Production on the series had wrapped a month prior, and while it was set to premiere on May 1, it was delayed out of respect for their late host.
Zonfrillo’s co-star and fellow celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was one of the first to take to social media to share his grief with supporters, posting a picture of the smiling Masterchef judging panel alongside the caption, “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 year’s master chef, I can’t tell how good it was to work with him! Jock was very generous to me with his time and spirit in the show and for that I was really grateful … Jock will be so very missed”.
Gordon Ramsay also turned to social media to pay tribute to his friend, writing of how he was “saddened by the devastating news of Jock Zonfrillo's passing … sending all my love to Lauren and the family in this difficult time”.
Network 10 and Endemol Shine Australia also posted a heartfelt tribute on Masterchef Australia’s social media, writing that they were “deeply shocked and saddened at the sudden loss of Jock Zonfrillo, a beloved member of the MasterChef family.
"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 charisma, wicked sense of humour, generosity, passion and love for food and his family cannot be measured. He will be greatly missed.”
Images: Getty