MasterChef’s Andy Allen reflects on the unexpected impact of Jock Zonfrillo’s passing

Almost a year has passed since the nation was saddened by the tragic loss of the beloved MasterChef judge, Jock Zonfrillo. Now, fellow celebrity chef Andy Allen has shared his reflections on life in the aftermath of this loss.

Zonfrillo sadly passed away on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at the age of 46 with his passing triggering an outpouring of grief from fans across the nation.

As Allen steps back into the MasterChef kitchen for the 15th season, he has opened up about the “silver lining” that has emerged as he continues to navigate his grief.

“The silver lining of Jock’s passing is that it has really brought me closer to Lauren and to Alfie, and Isla and Ava, as well,” he said during a recent appearance on Hit’s Carrie and Tommy.

“I’ve really enjoyed that part of just really strengthening that relationship and being there for those guys and yeah, I hope he’s looking down and going, ‘I’m really, really proud of you of what you’ve done both with my family and then my extended family on MasterChef’.

“I miss Jock being a father because he really was a role model life for me as someone who doesn’t have kids but wants to have kids. I just miss seeing him with his kids that’s that’s the that’s the s**t thing for me.”

In addition to the day-to-day challenges in the aftermath of Zonfrillo’s passing, Allen confessed that it was exceptionally difficult to re-enter the MasterChef kitchen without his cherished friend and co-star by his side.

“It’s nearly a year. Sometimes it feels like yesterday and other times it feels like it was a long, long time ago,” he said.

“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.