Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little issue joint tribute to Jock Zonfrillo after
and Tommy Little have joined forces to pay tribute to Jock Zonfrillo after his sudden death at age 46 on Monday. The pair posted together to their Carrie & Tommy radio show page after the sad news broke. 'We are absolutely heartbroken. Jock Zonfrillo 1976-2023' they wrote alongside a candid image. The photo showed the pair posing together with Jock, all three beaming for the camera. Carrie and her Hit FM co-host Tommy are said to have 'grown close' since her split from partner of 11 years, Chris Walker. A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia they found Zonfrillo's body at about 2am on Monday after they were called to a hotel on Lygon Street in Carlton for a welfare check. No cause of death has been disclosed, but police say his death is not being treated as suspicious. A report will be prepared for the coroner. 'With completely shattered hearts and without knowing how we can possibly move through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday,' his family said in a statement on Monday. 'So many words can describe him, so many stories can be told, but at this time we're too overwhelmed to put them into words. 'For those who crossed his path, became his mate, or were lucky enough to be his family, keep this proud Scot in your hearts when you have your next whisky.' They continued: 'We implore you to please let us grieve privately as we find a way to navigate through this, and find space on the other side to celebrate our irreplaceable husband, father, brother, son and friend.' The Scottish-Australian chef and restaurateur became a host of the popular Channel 10 cooking show MasterChef Australia in 2019 alongside Andy Allen and Melissa Leong. His death comes as MasterChef's fifteenth season, featuring Jamie Oliver as a guest judge, was due to premiere on Ten on Monday night. The show will not be airing this week in light of Zonfrillo's passing. Zonfrillo, who started his career working under Michelin-starred chef Marco Pierre White in the UK, famously overcame an addiction to heroin during his teenage years in Glasgow before becoming one of Australia's most celebrated chefs. In 2018, the year before he joined MasterChef, he was named Australia's Hottest Chef by The Australian newspaper.