Jock Zonfrillo dead: MasterChef co-star Andy Allen gives first TV interview

The episode aired one week after Zonfrillo’s demise on the age of 46. His physique was found by police in a Melbourne resort room within the early hours of Monday morning, along with his demise introduced that afternoon – simply hours earlier than the brand new season of MasterChef Australia was set to air.

As Zonfrillo’s household, followers and colleagues reeled on the information of his sudden demise, the season premiere of his present was pulled from the schedules and as an alternative debuted at 7:30pm tonight on Ten.

Talking with The Undertaking co-host Sarah Harris, Allen revealed he had loved a three-hour catch up over lunch with Zonfrillo the day earlier than his demise.

“We simply talked one another’s ear off for 3 hours. It was so … It was so regular. He was in such good spirits,” he stated.

“He was so excited in regards to the present launching.”

He added that he felt “responsible” that Zonfrillo’s spouse Lauren and younger youngsters, who had been abroad on the time of his demise, weren’t there for that last lunch.

“A part of me … simply feels responsible that it wasn’t them … I simply want that it was them sitting there having lunch with Jock. I’d give something to swap positions,” he stated, including that Lauren was “the strongest girl I’ve ever recognized”.

“She’s misplaced her finest buddy. … Jock’s bought three daughters, and it’s issues like by no means with the ability to stroll them down the aisle … They’re the issues which might be hurting her probably the most.”

Allen shared that in addition to being his finest mate, Zonfrillo additionally acted as a mentor, and stated Zonfrillo and his spouse “had been household” to him.

“Being 10 years youthful than him, I nonetheless have so many issues to be taught. That was one of many issues that he taught me, was to be susceptible and present your feelings,” he stated.

“And he’d most likely be up there now going, ‘I did an all-right job ‘trigger you’re a multitude’.”

Allen stated his mate’s demise had hit him “like a tonne of bricks”.

“I wish to say I’m OK, however, um … Yeah, I’m not nice,” he stated.

“He’s simply at all times been there for me, and … I’m simply struggling to grasp that he’s truly – he’s gone.

“The toughest factor is … I can’t get [Zonfrillo’s son Alfie’s] little voice and face out of my head saying, ‘You’re my finest buddy, poppa’. He stated it day-after-day.

“I’m gonna miss all the pieces that this man has introduced into my life. He couldn’t wait … for [Allen’s wife] Alex and I to have children as effectively. Yeah, he couldn’t anticipate that. He at all times stated I used to be gonna be an awesome dad. And I simply want he was round to see that.”

A slew of different celeb cooks additionally shared tributes to Zonfrillo, together with Gordon Ramsay, Curtis Stone, Shannon Bennett, Marco Pierre White, Maggie Beer and Jamie Oliver, in addition to an extended record of Australian celebrities equivalent to Grace Tame, Rebecca Gibney, Jimmy Barnes and Tommy Little.

“He lived for his ardour, for meals, for his children. He was a legend. He was. He at all times will probably be,” an emotional Tame stated.

Ramsay additionally broke down whereas talking about his buddy.

“The ripples have been devastating. No-one’s gonna recover from this shortly. If there’s one factor that we’ve accomplished as cooks is we’ve united and we’re speaking in regards to the good instances. So … Yikes.

… Sorry. It’s simply so painful,” he stated.

Former The Undertaking co-host Tommy Little additionally shared a touching reminiscence in regards to the final time the pair spoke.

“The one remorse I’ve is the final time I noticed him I interrupted his dinner. Lauren … he didn’t inform me to go away, however had I recognized you had so few dinners left with the love of your life, I by no means would have come over,” he stated.

“I like you, mate. I miss you.”

The episode ended with Barnes singing a shifting rendition of the traditional Scottish tune Loch Lomond in honour of his countryman.

In an announcement this week, Ten stated the choice to proceed with this season of MasterChef after a one-week delay comes “with the complete help of Jock Zonfrillo’s household.”

As followers wrestled with the fact that it may be fairly troublesome to observe this season, which was filmed in its entirety earlier than Zonfrillo’s demise, one fan on social media recommended viewers elevate a glass in tribute to Zonfrillo when the present airs tonight.

“I suggest a toast to Jock on Sunday seventh at 730pm and hope everybody will be part of me!” they wrote, a submit that has attracted a whole bunch of likes as others vowed to do the identical.

Zonfrillo’s demise left followers and people within the business shell-shocked, and among the many most heartbreaking public tributes to date have come from Allen and their fellow MasterChef choose, Melissa Leong.

“This all feels too uncooked to course of nonetheless, I think it should for a while. Such is the affect of a life lived so giant, with a lot levity and completely by yourself phrases,” Leong wrote in a shifting Instagram tribute to her colleague.

“Thanks for making me consistently snort and being there after I wanted to cry. You actually had been the whole bundle mate and life won’t ever be the identical with out you,” wrote Allen, earlier than paying tribute to Zonfrillo’s spouse Lauren and 4 youngsters.

“I do know you’ll be trying down on Loz, Ava, Sophia, Alfie & Isla. Give it up for Jock Zonfrillo.”

Initially revealed as Andy Allen offers emotional first TV interview after co-star Jock Zonfrillo’s demise