Lauren Zonfrillo has spoken publicly for the first time since the sudden death of her husband, MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo. She appeared in a special Spotlight interview with veteran journalist Liz Hayes on Sunday night. The interview marked nearly two years since Jock died in a Melbourne hotel room on 1 May 2023. Lauren remained composed while addressing difficult questions and acknowledged the public speculation surrounding Jock’s death. She confirmed she would not share his cause of death and said her decision respected the family’s privacy and the coroner’s ruling.
Figure 1: Lauren and her husband Jock
Final Hours and a Frantic Call from Rome
Lauren explained that she was in Rome with their children, Alfie and Isla, while Jock stayed in Melbourne to promote MasterChef. On the night of 30 April 2023, she called and messaged Jock several times but received no reply. Concerned, she phoned the front desk at Zagame’s House on Lygon Street and asked staff to check his room. “I was now hysterical,” she told Hayes, describing the moment she sensed something had gone terribly wrong. Police arrived to conduct a welfare check and later confirmed that a “deceased male” was found in the room. That male was her husband, who was 46 and scheduled to appear on MasterChef’s season premiere the next day.
A Devastated Wife Seeks Answers
Lauren flew to Melbourne and spent time with Jock’s body, still in shock and desperate for answers. “I asked him what the f**k happened,” she said, recalling the emotional moment in the hotel room. “I thought, this is done. I’m broken now, and there’s no fixing me,” she said. “The person I love that much cannot be there,” she added, expressing disbelief and despair. She described those hours as filled with grief and unanswered questions, but said she eventually found an explanation, though it offered no comfort.
Coronial Findings Stay Private
Victoria’s Coroners Court concluded a 16-month investigation into Jock’s death in August 2024. A court spokesperson confirmed, “At the close of the investigation, the coroner determined that the finding would not be published.” Not all coronial findings are released to the public under Victorian law. Lauren said she received the official cause of death but would not reveal it. She said, “I now don’t want to make those decisions of what he does and doesn’t want to talk about.” She added, “If it wasn’t in the public domain in any way, or comments about anything that he hasn’t brought up before.”
Jock’s History and Public Persona
Liz Hayes referenced Jock’s public battles with addiction and anxiety, including his own admissions of past heroin use. Jock had spoken openly about his recovery and mental health struggles in the past. Lauren acknowledged those parts of his story but refused to connect them to his death. Hayes asked, “Do you think his demons had caught up with him?” but Lauren dismissed the suggestion. She said Jock appeared peaceful when found and said that gave her a small sense of reassurance. She described him as a “beautifully flawed man” and stressed that his death did not seem connected to past struggles. “Nothing’s unanswered, nothing’s not understood. I have an answer … but it doesn’t make a difference,” she said.
Balancing Public Curiosity and Private Pain
Lauren said she understood why people wanted to know how Jock died and why such a young man passed so suddenly. Hayes said, “People want to know why he died, and how he died,” acknowledging public curiosity. But Lauren maintained that Jock had not shared everything publicly and she would not speak for him after his death. She said her priority remained protecting her children and respecting her husband’s memory. She asked for privacy and said she wished to give her family space to heal without public scrutiny.
A New Book on Grief and Healing
Lauren will release a book titled Till Death Do Us Part in May 2025. The book explores themes of grief, healing, and resilience based on her experience after Jock’s death. She wrote the book to help others who are grieving or recovering from trauma. She said the process gave her a way to express pain and share lessons that might help others. The book also reflects her journey as a widow and mother trying to rebuild life after loss.
Figure 2: Lauren has written a book about her grieving process
Remembering Jock Zonfrillo’s Legacy
Jock Zonfrillo left a lasting impact on Australian television and the culinary world. He served as a judge on MasterChef Australia from 2019 until his death. He championed Indigenous ingredients through the Orana Foundation and received praise for his contributions to food culture. He is survived by four children and his wife, Lauren, who continues to honour his memory. His sudden death at 46 remains a private matter for the family, but his legacy lives on through his work and influence. Lauren said her focus remains on their children and preserving Jock’s story in a way that reflects his wishes and dignity.
