As MasterChef Australia moves into the final weeks of the 2024 season, judge Andy Allen has paid tribute to Jock Zonfillo, his former co-judge and dear friend.
The Wednesday night episode kicked off with the heartwarming tribute, as the remaining contestants were asked to nominate their food heroes. While everyone chose a family member, Andy took a moment to remember his “late, great mate, Jock.”
The emotional moment saw the 36-year-old well up as he shared what the late chef had instilled in him, telling the cast; “The time that we spent cooking in this kitchen and creating an energy where people like you could just reach for the stars and succeed in everything you do.
“I learned so much about that from Jock and he taught me so much about being a good husband and being a good son, and one day hopefully being a good dad. So I miss him a lot.”
Jock passed away in Melbourn in April 2023, he was 46 at the time. His passing was announced on the eve of the launch of the 15th season of MasterChef.
Andy had previously revealed that he was continuing his role on MasterChef in memory of his late friend.
“It’s nearly a year. Sometimes it feels like yesterday and other times it feels like it was a long, long time ago,” he told the Carrie and Tommy Show.
“It was hard. It was really hard. I didn’t actually know if I was going to do it (MasterChef) again…It just felt so wrong to do it without him, because we just loved it so much together and walking back into that kitchen was huge.
“My only fear was that I couldn’t do it and I couldn’t be what it needed me to be,” he continued. “There was just this weight of grief over me, I just didn’t know if I’d be able to get through it. I just didn’t know if I’d be able to do it justice, to give the show what it needed because there was so much grief attached to that kitchen.”
