Jock Zonfrillo died on Sunday aged 46 (Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for AFI)
The start of a new season of MasterChef Australia appeared to feature online despite Channel 10 promising to postpone the series in the wake of Jon Zonfrillo’s death.
The judge died at the age of 46 on Sunday in Melbourne his family, who said they were ‘completely shattered’.
Tributes have since been pouring in for Zonfrillo from leading figures in the culinary world, including Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay, while Channel 10 confirmed MasterChef Australia would not air this week in a mark of respect.
Since then, reports have emerged that Zonfrillo’s wife Lauren, with whom he shares two of his four children, will be playing a part in the fate of the upcoming 15th season.
Filming of the latest season, which Zonfrillo judged alongside Andy Allen and Melissa Leong, finished several weeks ago, and it was due to air this week.
However, an awkward blunder has seen the start of the new episode emerge online, after Channel 10’s vow to postpone the episode.
In a clip shared by Daily Mail Australia, Zonfrillo welcomes the new contestants to the competition.
An awkward blunder saw the start of the new series uploaded online (Picture: Ten)
It has been reported Zonfrillo’s wife will have a say in the future of the series (Picture: Sam Tabone/WireImage)
The publication notes that the first 17 minutes of the episode were available on 10 Play on Tuesday afternoon, before it was taken down form the streaming site.
In the clip, Zonfrillo, looking dapper in a light blue suit, is welcomed by cheers as he says: ‘Hello everyone and welcome to the MasterChef kitchen!’
The Scotsman continues: ‘Can you actually believe it? Look around you, take it all in, you are here, in the very place where so many cooks have come to make their dreams come true. And now it’s your turn.
‘You’re not here by chance. We’ve chosen you, out of thousands of applicants, to compete for the ultimate prize – that trophy, $250,000, and the title of MasterChef Australia 2023.’
Andy Allen and Melissa Leong paid tribute to their co-star after his death (Picture: Ten)
The clip sees Zonfrillo beside his co-stars and judges Melissa Leong and Andy Allen, both of whom have paid tribute since his death.
Allen, who won Australian MasterChef in 2012 and then joined the franchise as a judge in 2020, described Zonfrillo as ‘the complete package’, adding that ‘life will never be the same without you’.
He wrote: ‘When I met you 5 years ago I knew our lives were about to change forever. What I didn’t realise is how close Alex and I would become outside of the kitchen with you, Lauren and your kids.
‘You’ve become such an inspirational and important part of our lives. Sure, you’ve taught me so much about food, but it’s the lessons I learnt about what it means to be a great father, husband and friend that I’ll take away from our time together and will last forever.’
Andy continued: ‘Thanks for making me constantly laugh and being there when I needed to cry. You really were the complete package mate and life will never be the same without you.’
Melissa, who also joined the programme in 2020, wrote on Instagram: ‘Four years ago, the three of us stood on a precipice and jumped. I could never have guessed how much of an impact your arrival in my life would have, or that we would be saying goodbye to you so soon. You were always supposed to be the bulletproof one who outlived us all.
‘In that time, you showed me what true excellence looks like both in the kitchen and outside of it; your kindness and generosity, the many lives you’ve lived, the way you carried far more on your shoulders than most could ever know.’
She continued: ‘Thank you for challenging me daily, for making me better, my work buddy and friend, purveyor of excellent morning coffees, hater of pears, okra and nasturtiums.
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‘This all feels too raw too process still, I suspect it will for some time. Such is the impact of a life lived so large, with so much levity and entirely on your own term. My heart goes out to your family, who were and are your life. A wee dram for you today, and always.’
The first episode is also set to feature TV chef Jamie Oliver, who uploaded a selfie with the late chef on Instagram and expressed his devastation.
‘I’m in total shock to wake up to the sudden death of chef Jock Zonfrillo,’ he penned.
‘We had the best time working together for this years 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… Mellisa, Andy & Jock work as the most inspiring judges and mentors and each have there very own unique view and style….’
Jamie Oliver shared a picture with the three judges and expressed his ‘devastation’ as he paid tribute on social media (Picture: Instagram)
He continued: ‘Jock will be so very missed…I can’t believe I’m writing this…….Sending heart felt love and condolences to all of his family, friends and his second family the master chef team and contestants xxx. Love jamie.’
On Monday, Victoria Police confirmed that Zonfrillo’s death wasn’t being treated as suspicious and said a coroner’s report was being prepared.
In a statement shared with Metro.co.uk, the force said: ‘Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a man in Carlton.
‘Police attended an address for a welfare check and located a man deceased about 2am on 1 May. The 46-year-old man’s death is not being treated as suspicious.’
Zonfrillo’s family had earlier confirmed his death in a statement that said: ‘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.’
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They added: ‘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.’
Metro.co.uk has approached Channel 10 for comment.
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MORE : Jock Zonfrillo’s wife will ‘have say’ in future of MasterChef after chef’s shock death
The episode was taken down.