Australia's Network 10 issued a statement announcing that 'MasterChef Australia' host Jock Zonfrillo has passed away suddenly at the age of 46, shortly before the launch of the new season of the cooking show in Melbourne. The cause of death was not disclosed in the statement.
Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Zonfrillo joined the popular show in 2019 and was expected to host the new season alongside guest chef Jamie Oliver. The premiere episode has been canceled by the network in response to Zonfrillo's passing. The presenter began his career in the kitchen in the UK, where he worked with renowned chefs, including Marco Pierre White, whom he credited with saving his life.
The book describes the life of Jock Zonfrillo, who, despite his drug addiction, managed to become a renowned chef. In 1999, he left the UK to settle in Australia, where he worked at Restaurant 41 in Sydney and later opened his own restaurant, Restaurant Orana in Adelaide, which gained culinary acclaim in 2019 and 2020 before closing. He has also hosted several cooking shows, including "Nomad Chef," "Restaurant Revolution," and "Chef Exchange."
In 2016, Zonfrillo founded The Orana Foundation, which focused on highlighting the qualities of Australia's indigenous food, and in 2018 won the prestigious Basque World Culinary Award for championing indigenous culture and culinary traditions. The role of his best known was as a presenter on the Australian show "MasterChef", which made him a household name in the country.
Zonfrillo passed away suddenly in Melbourne at the age of 46, leaving behind his wife, Lauren Fried, and four children. In a statement shared by Network 10, Zonfrillo's family expressed their devastation at the loss of the chef. For their part, Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver, who worked with Zonfrillo on "MasterChef", also expressed their sadness on social networks.
