'I know we'll be together forever'

After years of juggling work schedules and interstate abodes, Andy Allen and his wife, Alex, have found a place to call home.

- SUE SMETHURST

On the day The Weekly met with Andy Allen and his wife, Alex, the world was a different place. The loved-up duo were excited about the future; which included the upcoming new season of MasterChef Australia. But, as we prepared to go to print in sync with the launch of the show, the unthinkable happened: Andy lost his best friend and co-star, Jock Zonfrillo. Passing away on April 30, 46-year-old Jock left behind four children, his grieving wife, Lauren Fried, and a devastated community of fellow chefs, friends and fans who struggled to come to grips with the news.

“This has hit me like a ton of bricks,” Andy would say as he paid tribute to Jock on The Project days later. Out of respect for Andy, and Jock’s family, we didn’t run the story last month. But today Andy has asked that we publish it unedited, prefaced only by the disclaimer that these photos were taken and words penned long before tragedy hit. We thank the couple for their generosity in sharing their story and send love to all who are grieving an extraordinary man.

Andy Allen had never followed a recipe, let alone opened a cookbook, when he took his first steps onto the set of MasterChef.

The Newcastle tradie, who was just weeks away from finishing his electrical apprenticeship, only applied to join the show after a mate dared him $500 bucks to fill out the application, and much to his mum Maree’s chagrin, he wagged his final exam to attend the audition.

She accompanied him to the final round, still a little surprised and somewhat bemused that her sparky son was trying out for television, and of all things, a cooking show.