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Metro
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
MasterChef star Jock Zonfrillo's widow reveals his heartbreaking journal entry
The widow of MasterChef star Jock Zonfrillo has revealed the details about his final journal entry before his shock death. The Scottish chef was best known as one of the judges on MasterChef Australia, which he joined in 2019 alongside Melissa Leong and Andy Allen. But in May 2023 it was announced that Zonfrillo had died aged 46 during the promo tour for the show. He was found dead in a hotel room in Melbourne, with his cause of death never being revealed. At the time his family released a statement that read: '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.' They added: '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.' Two years on his wife Lauren, whom he married in 2017 and shared two young children with, has given her first TV interview speaking about Zonfrillo's death. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video When Zonfrillo died, Lauren was in Italy with their children, where they'd relocated not long before. Speaking to Liz Hayes in a special edition of Seven News' Spotlight series, she revealed how her husband's final words were about 'how happy' he was to have created their young family – son Alfie and daughter Isla. In the interview, Lauren shared how she discovered Jock's journal following his death. 'Jock had journalled for a period of time,' she explained. 'He wrote in his journal how he's so happy that we were finding our feet, and he was excited about creating these little Aussie-Italian-Scottish children…and what Isla's accent was going to be like when she starts talking full sentences. 'He always liked to put the kids to bed at night, he did all the voices with the books and so he just wrote about missing those thing and how he looked forward to getting there (to Italy where the kids were).' She went on: 'He wrote… 'Lauren didn't see herself, but I think she's just doing so much, but she's so capable and I'm really proud that she can do those hard things as well', and that's meant a lot to me now.' Lauren explained how it 'meant a lot' to her reading about 'such a normal conversation. '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,' she added. Lauren also spoke about the devastating lead-up to discovering her husband had died. After struggling to get in contact with him she asked hotel staff to conduct a welfare check. 'I was now hysterical,' she recalled. After police were called, Lauren was contacted and told a 'deceased male' had been found in her husband's room. Once arriving back in Australia and viewing her husband's body, Lauren said she begged him for answers to 'so many unanswered questions'. In tears while speaking about this moment, Lauren said she could smell his 'aftershave and hair product' and it looked like he was 'just sleeping'. '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,' she said. However, she also battled with feelings of being 'broken now' following the death of 'the person I love that much'. More Trending Although there was significant speculation about Zonfrillo's death – he had previously spoken publicly about past battles with drug addiction while some reports suggested he'd been diagnosed with bowel cancer – Lauren refused the proposition his 'demons caught up with him'. She didn't go into further detail about how he died but relayed how she'd been told by those who found him that it appeared he'd died peacefully in his bed. View More » Zonfrillo is also survived by his two adult daughters Ava and Sophia from his first two marriages. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Spend your May bank holiday weekend bingeing 'best Australian drama in a decade' MORE: Ant Middleton kicked off TV show months after selling home 'due to £1,200,000 debts' MORE: 'Watching this Hollywood actor play my love rat ex sent shivers down my spine'
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Remarkable truth behind Aussie twins revealed after viral TV moment
The world has become obsessed with a pair of identical twins from Australia after they were featured in an astonishing news segment that's gone viral. Seven News' 90-second interview focused on their witness account of an alleged 'carjacking' near their Sunshine Coast home, but what's sparked international attention is that Paula and Bridgette Powers are wearing the same clothes, have the same haircut, and answer questions in unison. However, most people sharing the clip overseas are unaware that the twins are renowned across Queensland for their wildlife volunteer work, and it's their ability to work in unison that helps them achieve remarkable results in healing injured birds. The veteran carers are highly skilled and were even mentored by the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. Just before Easter, they shared images on their Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue social media account showing over a dozen ducks they raised and then released into the wild. Days earlier, the pair rescued two pelicans that had become caught up in fish hooks. It's not the first time the Powers twins have gone viral. During a live conversation with Piers Morgan and Susannah Reid on Good Morning Britain in 2016, the hosts were delighted by their ability to laugh and speak together. 'Sometimes we do feel like just one person, yes, we do,' they said. In the most recent interview, the pair recounted the moment their mum approached the driver of a car that had rolled on Steve Irwin Way. But the man, who was covered in blood, then allegedly produced a gun. This. Is. INSANE — Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) April 22, 2025 "Our hearts started to pound. And I said Mum, where's Mum?" the Powers twins said. They then detail how their mother distracted the man so they could all get away. The Powers twins and their mother escaped unharmed. A man has been charged with a string of offences, including dangerous driving causing death and two counts of armed robbery. Footage captures 'nightmare' bird problem outside Apple store Reason behind decline of rare Aussie bird prompts calls for major change Bird's 'haunting' cry heard on Aussie island for first time in 50 years When Yahoo News contacted the twins on Tuesday, the pair said they were taking a break. Clips of their interview have been viewed millions of times around the world, and they've even been featured in an online parody by comedian Devon Poole. The last time we spoke with the Powers twins, they were hard at work, caring for a magpie that was unable to look after itself. The twins believed the juvenile magpie had been raised to associate humans with food, and that's why it approached them. 'He just wanted help, the poor little thing,' they said. Anyone wishing to donate and help the twins work can do so here. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
