MasterChef Australian Judge Jock Zonfrillo passes away ‘shock and sadness’ to New Zealand hospitality industry

The hospitality industry is in “shock” after MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrilo was found dead on Sunday.

Kiwi chef and restaurateur Alfie Ingham Death of Zonfrilloaged 46, shocked the community.

“We are all saddened and deeply shocked by this news. He is truly an outstanding and successful chef and a great inspiration.”

Ingham said mental health is a “pervasive issue” among chefs and needs to be discussed more in the hospitality department.

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New Zealand chef Vaughan Mabee also said he was stunned by the news.

“I was so shocked. Because many chefs never got out of it.

“But I loved how he seemed to have gone through a lot and gone through a bad period and gone back to being a great guy with a lot of success.”

Australian police confirm officers found body A 46-year-old man undergoing a medical examination at a facility in Melbourne at 2:00 am. Death was not treated as suspicious.

Australian singer Jimmy Burns has paid tribute online, saying he has lost a dear friend.

“Jock was like a brother to me and we made each other laugh and cry,” Burns wrote on Twitter.

“My heart goes out to his family. I am at a loss for words. Rest my friend.

Jamie Oliver said at this year’s MasterChef Australia, “It was a great time working with him.”

“Jock was so generous with his time and spirit on the show that I will miss him so much.

“My heartfelt love and condolences to his family, friends, MasterChef team and all contestants.”

Chef Gordon Ramsay said he was saddened by the news of Zonfrillo’s death.

“I truly enjoyed our time together at MasterChef Australia. Sending all my love to Lauren and family during this difficult time,” he wrote on Twitter.

MasterChef Australia was put on hold after Zonfrilo’s death.

In 2021, Zonfrillo spoke candidly about his challenges with obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and addiction.

“I never thought I’d be insecure. It’s a real working-class problem to arrive somewhere and think you’re not good enough.

“For me, I’ve done that my whole life. Every time I worked, I felt like I wasn’t good enough to be there,” he said. daily mail australia after that.

Zonfrillo also revealed that he always had a set of “worry beads” to help him cope.

“When you’re nervous or anxious, your brain starts to get agitated as if you’re thinking irrationally, so using Worry Beads calms down the noise in your brain,” he said. rice field.

Zonfrilo was the next star of MasterChef: Secrets and Surprises. The show was scheduled to start Monday night on Channel 10 in Australia, hours after news of his death broke.

Network 10 and Endemol hired Zonfrilo as one of three new hosts for their flagship cooking show in late 2019, following the departure of former hosts Matt Preston, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan, but were met with a “sudden loss.” I am very shocked and saddened by this.” A chef-turned-TV presenter.”

The new series was due to start in New Zealand on Sunday 7 May on TVNZ. On Monday, it was announced that the show would be put on hold for at least a week “until more information becomes available.”

“Unfortunately we have sadly learned that MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrilo passed away yesterday. Channel 10 has informed us that the show will not be airing this week,” TVNZ said in a statement Monday night. I was.

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• 1737, do you need to talk? Call toll-free or text 1737 to speak with a trained counselor.

• new zealand 0800 Anxiety (0800 269 4389)

• Depression.org.nz 0800 111 757 or text 4202

• life line 0800 543 354

• mental health foundation 09 623 4812, click here Access its free resources and information services.

• Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254

• Samaritan 0800 726 666

• suicide crisis helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 Tautoko)

• yellow brick road 0800 732 825

• thelowdown.co.nz web chat, email chat, free text 5626

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