Latest news with #Jock
7NEWS
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
MasterChef judge Andy Allen reveals he did Zonfrillo's press after a 4.30am call from Jock's wife
MasterChef judge Andy Allen has revealed the heartbreaking call he received from Lauren Zonfrillo, telling him his best friend had tragically died. At 4.30am on April 30, 2023, Lauren, Jock's wife, delivered the heartwrenching news to Allen and also to inform him that fellow judge Jock had press commitments scheduled for that morning. She wanted to keep his death from the MasterChef team and didn't want 10 to know he had passed yet. As a result, Allen went in Jock's place, knowing that Jock was dead, and carrying on with press for the season launch as if he had no idea. 'I get a call at about 4.30 in the morning from Lauren in hysterics and telling me what had happened, that Jock had passed away. And I was then like…what do you need? And she was like, 'Well…he's got a lot of press to do this morning.' And I had a bit of press to do as well. I was like, okay, I'll go do his press because she didn't want to go to Ten…she needed to get a plan together,' he told A Life of Greatness with Sarah Grynberg. Allen said navigating grief publicly and privately was the 'hardest thing I've ever been through' for many reasons. 'For him to pass away was shocking, (firstly) it was my birthday, (secondly) I was with him the day before, I was the last person to see him, we had lunch and (thirdly) for it to play out in the public eye was crazy, the first 24 hours I never want to relive.' Allen and Jock were inseparable as soon as they entered the MasterChef kitchen as the new judges, alongside Melissa Leong, taking over from George, Gary and Matt Preston. 'He was like the older brother I never had,' he said. 'I learnt so much from him, cooking, food and saw him with his family and his young kids and Loz and thought 'Wow, he's really great at being present with them.' Allen, who won MasterChef in 2012 at the age of 23, said his grieving process was 'such a journey for the first six months' and found himself being there for others. 'I needed to work on myself more. I went to talk therapy and became very aware that grief is okay,' he told Grynberg. 'I miss Jock every day but I've learnt there's so much more to celebrate, there's days I have really bad days, life is short and they (the Zonfrillos) had a life and they were so amazing at that life and I want to celebrate that.' The 46-year-old Scottish chef was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room in April 2023. His cause of death has never been revealed. In an exclusive interview with 7NEWS Spotlight that aired in May, Lauren spoke about discovering Jock's journal and reading his final words. 'Jock had journalled for a period of time,' she told Seven's Liz Hayes. 'It meant a lot to me reading . . . (about) such a normal conversation, but I got his version. 'It was kind of this encouragement to say, you've got this, Lauren, there's been many times where I've (felt like) I haven't got this.' Lauren — who was in Italy at the time of Jock's death — reportedly asked police to conduct a welfare check after failing to contact him. The couple had relocated to Rome with their young children, Alfie and Isla, with Jock travelling back to Australia to film MasterChef. Lauren now lives in Sydney with the younger kids, and Allen said he is still in touch with family but needed to see them more. Before MasterChef changed Allen's life, he was an apprentice electrician in Newcastle. He didn't come from a background of chefs and only ever cooked for family and friends, inspired by Jamie Oliver and his recipes. Allen took the big leap from sparky to the cooking competition after a mate dared him to enter for $500. After his winning season, he took a full time chef role at a small cafe in Bronte where he enhanced his cook skills.
Perth Now
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
MasterChef judge reveals tragic Jock Zonfrillo phone call
MasterChef judge Andy Allen has revealed the heartbreaking call he received from Lauren Zonfrillo, telling him his best friend had tragically died. At 4.30am on April 30, 2023, Lauren, Jock's wife, delivered the heartwrenching news to Allen and also to inform him that fellow judge Jock had press commitments scheduled for that morning. She wanted to keep his death from the MasterChef team and didn't want 10 to know he had passed yet. As a result, Allen went in Jock's place, knowing that Jock was dead, and carrying on with press for the season launch as if he had no idea. 'I get a call at about 4.30 in the morning from Lauren in hysterics and telling me what had happened, that Jock had passed away. And I was then like…what do you need? And she was like, 'Well…he's got a lot of press to do this morning.' And I had a bit of press to do as well. I was like, okay, I'll go do his press because she didn't want to go to Ten…she needed to get a plan together,' he told A Life of Greatness with Sarah Grynberg. Allen said navigating grief publicly and privately was the 'hardest thing I've ever been through' for many reasons. 'For him to pass away was shocking, (firstly) it was my birthday, (secondly) I was with him the day before, I was the last person to see him, we had lunch and (thirdly) for it to play out in the public eye was crazy, the first 24 hours I never want to relive.' Allen and Jock were inseparable as soon as they entered the MasterChef kitchen as the new judges, alongside Melissa Leong, taking over from George, Gary and Matt Preston. 'He was like the older brother I never had,' he said. 'I learnt so much from him, cooking, food and saw him with his family and his young kids and Loz and thought 'Wow, he's really great at being present with them.' Allen, who won MasterChef in 2012 at the age of 23, said his grieving process was 'such a journey for the first six months' and found himself being there for others. 'I needed to work on myself more. I went to talk therapy and became very aware that grief is okay,' he told Grynberg. 'I miss Jock every day but I've learnt there's so much more to celebrate, there's days I have really bad days, life is short and they (the Zonfrillos) had a life and they were so amazing at that life and I want to celebrate that.' The 46-year-old Scottish chef was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room in April 2023. His cause of death has never been revealed. Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo became good friends on MasterChef. Credit: News Corp Australia In an exclusive interview with 7NEWS Spotlight that aired in May, Lauren spoke about discovering Jock's journal and reading his final words. 'Jock had journalled for a period of time,' she told Seven's Liz Hayes. 'It meant a lot to me reading . . . (about) such a normal conversation, but I got his version. 'It was kind of this encouragement to say, you've got this, Lauren, there's been many times where I've (felt like) I haven't got this.' Lauren — who was in Italy at the time of Jock's death — reportedly asked police to conduct a welfare check after failing to contact him. The couple had relocated to Rome with their young children, Alfie and Isla, with Jock travelling back to Australia to film MasterChef. Lauren now lives in Sydney with the younger kids, and Allen said he is still in touch with family but needed to see them more. Before MasterChef changed Allen's life, he was an apprentice electrician in Newcastle. He didn't come from a background of chefs and only ever cooked for family and friends, inspired by Jamie Oliver and his recipes. Allen took the big leap from sparky to the cooking competition after a mate dared him to enter for $500. After his winning season, he took a full time chef role at a small cafe in Bronte where he enhanced his cook skills. He later opened the restaurant Three Blue Ducks in Roseberry, alongside Mark Labrooy and Darren Robertson, which now has multiple locations on the East Coast.
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Kirkcudbright business continues long-standing support of lifeboat crew
West Coast Sea Products donated £1,000 to Kirkcudbright RNLI at the launch of their new boat. A Kirkcudbright business has continued its long-standing support of the town's lifeboat crew. West Coast Sea Products donated £1,000 to the fundraising campaign for a new lifeboat station extension at the launch of their new boat the Halcyon recently. It is tradition for the price of the first bag of scallops to be presented to charity when a new boat is launched. Director and company secretary, Jackie King, said: 'Spanning three generations the King family has not only embraced the challenges of fishing but also contributed to the long history of Kirkcudbright RNLI, its station and crew, ensuring its readiness to serve those in need at sea. 'Their legacy as fishermen reflects a deep connection to the sea.' West Coast Sea Products was founded by John King, known to many as Jock. He was a crew member on the lifeboat and also deputy launch authority in the 1980s and 1990s, generously providing the land for the current crewroom at Dee Road. Retired crew member and honorary secretary, Rab Thomson, said: 'John King was bowman on two Kirkcudbright lifeboats – the JB Cooper of Glasgow, in late 1959, and then on the Mary Pullman when she succeeded the JB Cooper in 1965. 'I remember when he used his first small boat called Seoladair to learn how to tow a fishing net in the Kirkcudbright Bay waters. 'I had the pleasure to be a crewman on a couple of occasions while I was still at school in 1958. John was present on the J B Cooper in 1962 when the Kirkcudbright lifeboat was celebrating its 100th anniversary.' Jock's son John is managing director at West Coast Sea Products and presented the cheque to Kirkcudbright RNLI lifeboat operations manager John Collins at Saturday's ceremony. And John's nephew – the late Jock's grandson – Jack Finlay is one of the newest recruits to the crew.
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
'An absolute legend' retires: No more ruff days at work for Jock
Christchurch shelter rescue canine Jock has taught hundreds of school kids about dog safety over the past 12 years. But it is finally time for the huntaway greyhound cross, who is Christchurch City Council's longest-serving education dog, to officially retire this year. Thirteen-year-old Jock was a spritely pup when he came into the Animal Shelter in 2014. When he was about 1, the friendly canine was adopted by the city council's animal management education co-ordinator Kym Manuel. Photo: Christchurch City Council Manuel now says it was one of the best decisions she has ever made. "Jock has been an absolute legend. "He came into the shelter as just a young pooch, and now at 13 he has toured the country for presentations at schools, libraries and public places." Jock was the original star of the Christchurch City Libraries Reading to Dogs programme and took part in the pilot session more than a decade ago. He is now one of the five dogs working to teach dog safety as part of the city council's DogSmart and DogSafe education programmes. Photo: Christchurch City Council Manuel said the free education programmes were developed by the animal management team to teach dog safety to children and adults to reduce the risk of dog attacks. "We realised there was a gap in our education approach, so shifted our strategy to focus on prevention and keeping the public safe." The DogSmart school programme works with pupils in years 1 to 8 and gives young kids an opportunity to safely interact with a dog. Photo: Christchurch City Council When Jock retires, his leash will be handed over to the current roster of canines who are on a mission to help our communities get dog smart. All of the dogs are family pets and are temperament tested before being gently introduced into the programmes, Manuel said. Animal management also offers DogSafe workplace training, which is designed to help prevent dog attacks on employees who come across dogs in their course of work. To find out more and apply for a free DogSmart or DogSafe training session, visit
RTÉ News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
The Young Offenders is coming back for a fifth season
The BBC - in association with RTÉ - has recommissioned hit comedy The Young Offenders for a fifth season from producers Vico Films. Which is great news for fans of the misadventures of hapless heroes Conor (Alex Murphy) and Jock (Chris Walley), alongside their long- suffering mother/guardian Mairéad (Hilary Rose), former nemesis Garda Sergeant Tony Healy (Dominic MacHale) and the unpredictable Billy Murphy (Shane Casey). Created by Peter Foott, and based on his original film, the new six-part season will see Conor reunited with Jock in Cork after both spent the previous run in different prisons, in different parts of the world. Now that the loveable rogues are back together, there's nothing that they can't do - although whether they're successful at it is a different matter. The critically acclaimed hit show which has reached huge audiences in Ireland, the UK and internationally, set and filmed in Cork city and county, will once again feature Principal Walsh (PJ Gallagher), Siobhán (Jennifer Barry), Linda (Demi Isaac), Orla (Orla Fitzgerald) and Star (Rylee Hosford). Peter Foott s says: "All the original characters who audiences know and love since the show started are back in season five. "We have the funniest, most heart-warming stories in the new season that will show Conor and Jock getting into scrapes like never before. "We hope audiences will share our excitement to have all the gang back together, bringing more laughs, thrills and moments to remember to TV screens." Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy, says: "We're thrilled to reunite with Conor and Jock in Cork for more gloriously misguided misadventures. "This fifth series is brimming with the wild heart, raucous charm and razor-sharp wit that have made The Young Offenders a true fan favourite." RTÉ's Executive Producer Comedy Justin Healy said: "Once again, we are thrilled another new season of The Young Offenders will air on RTÉ. "Irish Comedy is making a real impact on the international stage, and RTÉ is delighted to play its part in supporting the creative talent we have here, something that is central to what we do." The Young Offenders has kept audiences entertained since 2016 with the fourth season among the top three comedies across broadcasters for 16–34-year-olds in 2024 (excluding specials). Casting for the final roles in season five is now taking place, and applicants can submit an audition at
