His wife is determined to honour her late husband.

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Lauren Zonfrillo has spoken for the first time about keeping her late husband and MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo’s cause of death out of the public eye.

She spoke in depth about her family’s grief on Channel Seven’s Spotlight with Liz Hayes, and being a widow, which she also explores in her memoir Till Death Do Us Part.

While she appreciated that people were curious and cared about her late husband, she said that she wanted to “reclaim” his privacy and “peace” and keep it private for the sake of her family.

“I now don’t want to make those decisions of what he does and doesn’t want to talk about, if it wasn’t in the public domain in any way, or comments about anything that he hasn’t brought up before,” she said. While she knew the cause of his death after an extensive investigation, she said it “doesn’t make a difference” to his passing.
The findings will be kept private, as per the request of his loved ones. (Credit: Channel Ten)

What happened to Jock Zonfrillo?

The father-of-four was found deceased on May 1, 2023, after police received a request to conduct a welfare check at the Melbourne hotel where Jock was staying alone.

Speaking to Liz Hayes, Lauren said she knew something was not right when Jock missed a FaceTime call when she was in Rome with their children. At the time, he was promoting MasterChef in Australia, and she explained they planned to make the move to Italy.

When the hotel refused to do a welfare check when she made a call, she then contacted the police and was told the heartbreaking news.

A 16-month investigation was conducted by authorities behind closed doors and concluded on August 27, 2024. The coroner then confirmed that the findings of the investigation and what happened on the night of his death would be kept confidential.

“At the close of this investigation, the coroner determined that the finding would not be published,” a spokeswoman for Victoria’s Coroners Court shared with the Daily Mail in February 2025.

They added that the findings relating to Jock’s cause of death “will likely remain secret” unless his family opt to publicly disclose the coroner’s findings.
Lauren has spoken about the loss of her late husband Jock Zonfrillo two years on. (Credit: Instagram)

A shock announcement

Jock’s family confirmed he had passed away in a shock statement shared to his Instagram account on May 1, 2023.

The statement read, “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.”

“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.”

“We implore you to please let us grieve privately as we find a way to navigate through this, and find space on the other side to celebrate our irreplaceable husband, father, brother, son, and friend.”

Jock was 46 years old and his cause of death was not treated as suspicious at the time, Victoria Police confirmed.

At the time of his death, his daughter Ava, 24, shared a touching commemoration. Taking to Instagram, she posted a series of photos with the heartfelt caption, “Still can’t accept that we’ll be remembering you for more time than we had you, but doesn’t mean we’ll love you any less. I love you, Dad, always.”

She also took to Instagram to share a devastating photo montage of treasured memories she shared with her father, simply captioning the post “I never thought I’d lose you at 22.”

The accompanying audio was equally heartbreaking: “I miss you, Dad, I miss you until I close my eyes.”
Jock’s daughter Ava shared a heartfelt tribute to her late father. (Credit: Instagram)

“It’s still hard to believe”

Tributes for Jock came pouring in once his family announced his passing.

At the 63rd TV Week Logie Awards – where MasterChef Fans vs Favourites won ‘Most Popular Reality Program’, former contestants and colleagues paid tribute to the larger-than-life star.

“Thank you so much to the audience for sticking with us, through thick and thin, especially through the year we’ve had,” MasterChef co-judge Melissa Leong said before becoming visibly emotional.

Executive producer Marty Benson then took over with a heartfelt tribute of his own.
The win was bittersweet without Jock (Credit: Channel Seven)
“As I stand here tonight, it’s still hard to believe that my mate and our amazing judge Jock is no longer with us. So, big man, this is 100% dedicated to you.”

“Tonight we are going to celebrate Jock-style. Please, everybody, give it up for Jock!,” to which there was emotional applause throughout the room.

A month on from the emotional MasterChef win at the Logies, 2023 winner Brent Draper took to his Instagram stories to share his favourite memory of Jock, with whom he shared a close bond.

“My favourite memory is when we did the challenge at Grazeland, when we had to feed 500 people, and Jock was on our team and Andy was on the other team, and Jock was sticking a rock up my a** the whole way through.”

“The cameras didn’t see it, but he was pushing me and making sure I was getting everything done, all in such an amazing way. He just wanted the best of us. I’ll [always] remember that. It was a good day.”
Andy Allen paid tribute to his late friend. (Credit: Instagram)

What did Andy Allen say about Jock Zonfrillo’s death?

That same year, Andy Allen (who was notably absent from the event presumably due to his holiday in Europe), took his Instagram to celebrate his late friend.

“Congrats on your Logie mate. This Carbonara is for you, Loz, Ava, Sofia, Alfie and Isla.”

The two images accompanying the post were of Andy and Jock goofing around, and Andy making carbonara for Jock in his kitchen.

Lauren was quick to comment on the heartfelt post: “I’ll forever be grateful for MasterChef as it brought you and @alexxandra.allen into our lives. Now more than ever. Love you. Iz xx”

He also penned a beautiful tribute to his late friend on Instagram. “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,” Andy wrote.
May he rest in peace. (Credit: Getty)
“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 learned 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.”

“I’ll miss the way you mentored me and every contestant that walked into the MasterChef kitchen, I’ll miss you ordering the entire menu no matter how many dishes deep and making me eat every last bite, I’ll miss your morning on-set coffees that made me shake from the amount of caffeine you were able to extract out of every individual bean, I’ll miss the morning FaceTimes with Loz, Alfie, and Isla, but overall I’ll miss you looking out for me every single day,” he 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. I know you’ll be looking down on Loz, Ava, Sophia, Alfie & Isla. Give it up for Jock Zonfrillo ❤️.”

Since his death, Andy has shared photos with his late friend and expressed his grief. Two years later, he told Liz Hayes that he remembered Lauren’s call vividly. He only had lunch with Jock hours before.

“I always think of him and I miss him so much,” he said on Spotlight, and added that feeling never left him.
After meeting on the set of MasterChef, these three became firm friends. (Credit: Instagram)

What did Melissa Leong say about Jock’s passing?

Fellow MasterChef judge Melissa Leong also took to her Instagram at the time to share a similarly heartfelt message.

“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,” she wrote.

“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.”
“I’ll miss you looking out for me every single day,” Andy Allen wrote in a lovely tribute to Jock. (Credit: Instagram)
“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,” Melissa continued.

“This all feels too raw to 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 terms.”

“My heart goes out to your family, who were and are your life.”

“A wee dram for you today, and always.”
“Jock was very generous to me with his time and spirit in the show and for that I was really grateful,” Jamie Oliver wrote in his tribute. (Credit: Instagram)

Chefs and friends pay tribute to Jock

Famed chef and MasterChef guest judge Jamie Oliver also took to Instagram after hearing the news.

“I’m in total shock to wake up to the sudden death of chef Jock Zonfrillo,” Jamie wrote on Instagram. “We had the best time working together for this year’s MasterChef, I can’t tell [you] 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… Melissa, Andy & Jock work as the most inspiring judges and mentors and each has their very own unique view and style… Jock will be so very missed… I can’t believe I’m writing this…….Sending heartfelt love and condolences to all of his family, friends, and his second family the MasterChef team and contestants xxx. Love Jamie.”

Former MasterChef judge and close friend of Jock’s, Matt Moran, also shared a tribute post to his Instagram, “I’m lost for words, a great mate for over 20 years and one of the best chefs I have ever known. Absolutely heartbreaking. My thoughts are with Lauren and his family. We’ll miss you, chef.”

Jimmy Barnes took to Twitter and wrote, “It’s a very sad day. We’ve lost another dear friend. Jock was like a brother to me and we made each other laugh and cry. My heart goes out to his family. I am speechless. Rest my friend xx.”

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay also took to Twitter to express his condolences, “Saddened by the devastating news of Jock Zonfrillo’s passing. I truly enjoyed the time we spent together on MasterChef in Australia. Sending all my love to Lauren and the family in this difficult time.”

The official MasterChef Australia Instagram page also wrote an incredibly touching tribute to Jock.
Jock Zonfrillo passed away in 2023. (Credit: Channel 10)
“Jock was known to Australians as a chef, best-selling author, philanthropist and MasterChef judge but he will be best remembered as a loving father, husband, brother and son,” it read.

“In 2019, Jock was named as a judge on MasterChef Australia in which he took great pride in challenging and coaching the contestants and of course inspiring a nation of home cooks. Jock’s charisma, wicked sense of humour, generosity, passion, and love for food and his family cannot be measured. He will be greatly missed,” it continued.

In a tribute episode of The Project that aired prior to the delayed season premiere on Sunday, May 7, several notable celebrity chefs, colleagues, and dear friends paid tribute to their beloved Jock.

Former mentor Marco Pierre-White described Jock as “rare” and one of the most brilliant culinary minds of the 21st century.

“It was that enthusiasm that drove him. Maybe fuelled by his fears of failure, by his insecurities, which I could relate to,” Marco said of Jock’s approach to cooking.

Fellow chefs Matt Moran and Shannon Bennet also spoke of Jock’s love of learning and teaching the culinary arts.

“The pursuit of perfection and knowledge, and being inquisitive is an endless road, Jock was very good at reminding people of that,” Shannon said.

“I think Jock made a difference to anyone he connected with. If you ever needed to bounce anything off, Jock was the person,” Matt added.