MasterChef crew hold back tears returning to set for the first time since Jock Zonfrillo’s death 

The MasterChef crew were overcome with grief when they returned to the Channel 10 reality show last week. 

As the newest season has already been filmed, it’s the first time they were back on-set following the tragic death of judge Jock Zonfrillo. 

According to The Saturday Telegraph, crew members had to hold back tears as they missed their late friend and colleague in the studio.

Sources told the publication that production came to a standstill periodically on set, as cast and crew were overcome with grief. 

It is the first time many of them had seen one another since the chef’s private funeral in Sydney two weeks ago. 

The 46-year-old died on April 30, just a day before the newest series of the hit cooking show was due to air.

It is believed he died from natural causes after he was found dead by police at a Melbourne hotel in the early hours of the morning. 

Channel 10 producers will now likely be scrambling to decide what to do with the next series following his death. 

As the newest season has already been filmed, it’s the first time they were back on-set following the tragic death of judge Jock Zonfrillo (pictured with judges Andy Allen and Melissa Leong)

They may replace the much-loved judge, or replace all three of the judges – giving Andy Allen and Melissa Leong the boot. 

This is what the show did in 2019 following a contract with dispute with judges Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris as it decided to completely recast the panel. 

Four days ago, Jock’s daughter Ava Zonfrillo broke her public silence following her fathers death. 

On Sunday, Ava, 22, shared a poignant memory of her dad three weeks after his passing.

Four days ago, Jock’s daughter Ava broke her public silence following her fathers death (both pictured when Ava was a toddler)

Ava Zonfrillo, 22, shared a poignant memory of her dad three weeks after his passing on Sunday (both pictured)

‘Still can’t accept that we’ll be remembering you for more time than we had you, but doesn’t mean we’ll love you any less,’ Ava wrote under an Instagram post of her when she was a toddler with Jock. 

‘I love you dad, always.’

The post was accompanied by eight photos and two videos of Zonfrillo, some of them featuring the father and daughter together both in Ms Zonfrillo’s childhood and some more recent snaps.

Ava is the daughter of Jock and his first wife Amanda Ewing. Ava initially followed her father’s footsteps into the culinary world, working hospitality public relations. 

Ava is the daughter of Jock (pictured) and his first wife Amanda Ewing.