Liz Hayes disappoints in ratings in first assignment with 7NEWS Spotlight after quitting rival 60 Minutes - despite 'powerful' interview with Jock Zonfrillo's widow Lauren
Liz Hayes' recent interview with Jock Zonfrillo 's widow failed to draw the expected crowds despite weeks of promotional build-up and hype in the media sphere.
The 7NEWS Spotlight journalist, 68, spoke to Lauren Zonfrillo on Sunday about the devastating loss of her husband, who was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room around 2am on May 1, 2023 after police were called to conduct a welfare check.
The interview, which is the first sit-down that the grieving widow has done since her husband passed away two years ago, was set to draw in the ratings as the promotional clips dubbed it 'one of the most powerful interviews of the year'.
However, the segment was surprisingly out-rated by Nine's 60 Minutes, which aired during the same time slot and was previously fronted by Liz herself.
It was revealed by news.com.au that 7NEWS Spotlight was watched by 418,000 people on Sunday night while 60 Minutes was watched by 444,000, amassing an extra 26,000 views.
Despite the ratings showing a slump, Liz was perfectly tipped for the interview after chatting to the late Jock Zonfrillo a month prior to his death for Spotlight's TV nemesis 60 Minutes.
The 7NEWS Spotlight journalist, 68, spoke to Lauren Zonfrillo on Sunday about the devastating loss of her husband, who was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room around 2am on May 1, 2023 after police were called to conduct a welfare check. Pictured with Jock
The journalist, who worked for Channel Nine for 44 years before quitting in February 2025, chatted to the celebrity chef in April 2023, however the channel decided against airing the interview.
Liz announced a shock move to rival network Seven earlier this year.
Two months after departing Nine, ending her decades with the network, the former 60 Minutes star has officially joined Channel Seven to work on current affairs show Spotlight.
Spotlight executive producer Gemma Williams said it was a privilege to welcome Liz to the network's flagship news show.
'We're privileged to welcome Liz Hayes to 7NEWS Spotlight as a guest correspondent,' she said.
'Widely respected for her decades of experience, storytelling expertise and journalistic integrity, we look forward to collaborating with Liz on this special project.'
Daily Mail Australia's Inside Mail earlier revealed that Liz's first assignment for Spotlight was the tell-all interview with Lauren Zonfrillo.
On Sunday night, Lauren shared the harrowing final moments she spent with her MasterChef Australia star husband Jock as she said goodbye to his lifeless body.
His grieving widow raced home to Australia from Italy with the couple's two young children, where she was faced with seeing his body in a Melbourne morgue.
Lauren told 7NEWS Spotlight that she was full of fear - but needed to see her husband, and speak to him.
'I was scared of it, but it was just what I needed. It was just a very strange feeling' she said while tears rolled down her face.
'Jock was in his pyjamas. I could smell his aftershave. I could smell his hair product. It was just like Jock was sleeping.
'I went up to him, and I wanted to touch him but I was quite scared. And so I started with his hair, and then I could touch his face, then I was kind of, was okay with it. But it was really my time to say goodbye to Jock' she continued.
'He was still there. I really felt he was there. I told him that it will be okay, that I've got this. That I will make sure the kids live big lives. And that, no matter what, we would be a family.'
Lauren said that she begged her husband to tell her what happened to him, and wished that he would reply.
'I asked him what the f**k happened, and I just wanted the words from him. He just looked completely normal to me.
'I could not undo what was in front of me. Like, I am broken now. That's it. There's no fixing me.
'This is the person I love that much, who cannot be there.'
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