"With Jock in our hearts": Channel 10's big MasterChef announcement
The 15th season of Masterchef Australia will be broadcast as planned, Channel 10 have confirmed.
The season, otherwise known as Masterchef: Secrets & Surprises, was initially sent into limbo when fan-favourite host and chef Jock Zonfrilllo passed away unexpectedly, reportedly in a Melbourne hotel room.
But now, the network behind the hit cooking competition series have confirmed that after a one-week delay and an unfortunate streaming blunder, Masterchef will return to screens across Australia, and likely the rest of the world in the coming months.
The network made the announcement through social media, sharing a statement that assured audiences the decision had come with “the full support of Jock Zonfrillo’s family”.
“Masterchef Australia Judge Jock Zonfrillo took great pride in challenging and coaching the contestants and of course inspiring a nation of home cooks,” it continued, before going on to note that they would be keeping the late Zonfrillo close to their hearts over the course of the upcoming season, and beyond.
It concluded with the news that “the show will honour Jock by reflecting on his personal and professional life in a celebration of his incredible achievements”, with some fans declaring in the comments that this was the “best way to honour his work”.
The new season of #MasterChefAU begins 7.30pm Sunday on 10 and 10 Play. pic.twitter.com/CnENu2UpUO
— Channel 10 (@Channel10AU) May 3, 2023
The official Masterchef Australia account shared the same statement, and was met with a similar response from supporters of the show.
“I’ll look forward to watching this with a whisky in hand, give it up for Jock,” one wrote.
“I look forward to watching it. I think that viewing Jock’s final season together with all other MasterChef fans will be a fitting way for us to remember what an amazing person, chef and inspirational mentor he was,” another said.
“A difficult decision,” one noted, “however the opportunity to see the great chef live on and do what it seemed he loved and was so very good at, making people love cooking.”
The idea that it could not have been an easy decision to reach for one shared by a large portion of fans, with another likely speaking for all of them when they wrote that “this must have been a really emotionally tough decision for Jock's family. I think I'll need a box of tissues for this one.”
“As long as Jock's family are OK with this, we can respect Channel 10's decision,” another decided. “I personally will find it very hard to watch the series in light of what's happened, but I'll think of it as a wonderful tribute to a fantastic man and beautiful soul.”
Meanwhile, one fan had another idea for honouring the late chef, asking Masterchef Australia, “would you consider changing the name of the trophy the winner gets to the Jock Zonfrillo trophy?”
Images: Twitter