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National

MasterChef Australia to return to air Sunday, preceded by tribute to judge Jock Zonfrillo

Jock Zonfrillo on the set of MasterChef Australia with fellow judges Melissa Leong and Andy Allen, and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. (Instagram: @jamieoliver)

MasterChef Australia will return to air on Sunday, a week after the death of judge Jock Zonfrillo caused the program's season debut episode to be delayed.

Zonfrillo, 46, was found dead early on Monday morning after police were called to do a welfare check at a Melbourne hotel room.

The popular reality cooking show was due to debut its 15th season, which has already been recorded, later that night.

No cause of death was given, but police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

A statement posted to MasterChef Australia's social media accounts said the episode would now air at 7:30pm on Sunday, with the support of Zonfrillo's family.

It will be preceded by an hour-long tribute to Zonfrillo, featuring contributions from his friends and "reflecting on his personal and professional life in a celebration of his incredible achievements".

"It is with Jock in our hearts that we cherish this season and remember the charismatic and big-hearted judge and chef who we knew and loved," the statement said.

"Jock will be remembered in the MasterChef Australia kitchen for years to come."

Zonfrillo's fellow judges Andy Allen and Melissa Leong paid tribute to their colleague on Tuesday, with Leong writing that the Scottish-born chef was "always supposed to be the bulletproof one who outlived us all".

"You showed me what true excellence looks like, both in the kitchen and outside of it," she wrote.

"Your kindness and generosity, the many lives you've lived, the way you carried far more on your shoulders than most could ever know."

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