He reflected on how ‘we couldn’t get it wrong’

Jamie Oliver, who pops up on Channel 4 tonight (September 15) in Jamie: Eat Yourself Healthy, previously shared his pain over the death of fellow chef Jock Zonfrillo.

Scottish presenter Jock passed away at the end of April 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. He was aged 46. A judge on Masterchef Australia, Jock had worked in a London restaurant of Gordon Ramsay’s in the 1990s.

He was also formerly a colleague of Jamie’s – and the Naked Chef star hailed Jock in a touching tribute: “I can’t tell how good it was to work with him!”

Jamie Oliver was asked to step in following death of his MasterChef pal (Credit: YouTube)

‘It’s a tough year’

Following Jock’s death, Jamie was approached by producers of the cooking show from Down Under. He had cameoed in two shows in the final series Jock appeared in.

Speaking in April 2024, Jamie said he thought the show hit the right tone after losing Jock. He said at the time to Woman’s Weekly Australia: “[I] came for two days last year. This year it felt more appropriate to help and bed in and launch the judges. They call me a judge, but really, I’m a guest judge and it’s been amazing.”

Everyone’s thinking of Jock.

Jamie added: “It’s a tough year but full of celebration and I think everyone’s thinking of Jock in the decision-making process. I am, and I think we’ve done it right.”

Glaswegian cookery star Jock Zonfrillo was just 46 when he passed away in 2023 (Credit: YouTube)
Furthermore, TV chef Jamie Oliver also reflected on how “tough” it was to ensure the show continued in the “right” way.

He added: “This sort of situation is very rare and it’s very painful. This was an incredibly important year to get right. We couldn’t get it wrong for obvious reasons. From my point of view I was here to support Andy and support the show, and that was it.”