MasterChef Australia fans sob as show airs tribute to late judge Jock Zonfrillo
MasterChef Australia viewers have been left in tears as the new series launched, following the sudden death of judge Jock Zonfrillo.
The renowned chef and dad-of-four died on Monday, with the 15th season of MasterChef Australia set to launch that evening.
With the support of Jock's family, the episode was pushed back to today, after an hour long special tribute to the TV star, with chefs Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and his former mentor, Marco Pierre White, remembering the culinary innovator.
After the special edition of The Sunday Project, MasterChef Australia aired on Channel Ten, and fans were in tears after Jock walked through the famous doors.
The late Jock Zonfrillo with guest judge Jamie Oliver
Viewers were left in tears over his appearanceThe episode saw Jock, fellow judges Andy Allen and Melissa Leong, as well as guest Jamie Oliver, taste a host of incredible dishes.
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After the credits, a picture of Jock appeared, with a message to the late chef "from the MasterChef family", saying: "Thank you for giving us all your wisdom, kindness and humour.
"We were lucky to have been around you, but for too brief a time."
Fans then reacted to the heartbreaking episode on Twitter, with some sharing their own tributes too.
One viewer wrote: "Dearest Jock, My heart is broken… Toughest Masterchef watch yet. Pouring out a bottle of HP sauce for you. I love you and miss you, your culinary skills, your insatiable food shovelling, your impeccable style, and your kind heart. RIP, legend.”
Jock Zonfrillo, pictured with wife Lauren, died aged 46 (Instagram/zonfrillo)A second said: "Way too many tears for a Sunday night. Going to be very hard watching Masterchef for the next couple of weeks."
Another viewer penned: "The episode of @theprojecttv tonight on Jock Zonfrillo made me sob. The food world and MasterChef will never be the same again. I can’t imagine how his poor family feel. What an amazing chef and man."
A fourth said they were glad they watched the show, writing: "I can tell you the first 15 minutes was so joyous! Sobbed after watching Jock's tribute just before but now have the familiar "happy feels" that Masterchef brings."
Marco Pierre White, who gave Jock one of his first jobs in the industry at his Hyde Park Hotel restaurant in London, described the chef as rare and special.
During the Sunday Project special edition, he said: "Jock came to me when he was 17-years-old. His enthusiasm was greater than than his knowledge but it was his enthusiasm which drove him, maybe fuelled by his fears of failures, by his insecurities, which I could relate to.
"Few chefs have an inquisitive mind, an intellectual mind, a creative mind."
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Marco Pierre White remembered Jock in a special hour long episode (theprojecttv/Twitter)Jock moved to Australia in 2000, and learnt about First Nation cooking, opening up popular restaurant Orana in South Australia.
Marco said: "Jock was the first at what he did and people followed him and that's what makes him special. That's what makes him rare. He took risks. It was in his nature."
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