Channel Ten is reportedly in crisis amid discussions about what will happen to the MasterChef Australia 2023 season following the death of judge Jock Zonfrillo.
The celebrity chef was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room around 2 am on May 1 after police were called to conduct a welfare check.
Network 10 and Endemol Shine Australia soon shared their sympathies on social media. It was also announced that MasterChef Australia: Secrets and Surprises would not air this week as planned.
Instead, episodes of The Bridge Australia 2022 will be broadcast in its place.
A TV insider has since told Yahoo! Lifestyle that MasterChef‘s fate is in limbo behind the scenes and it’s unclear whether the show will go to air.
“Channel 10 and Endemol were thrown into crisis meetings, with bosses unsure if it’s appropriate to still air the new season,” they said.
Another source said those working on the show were permitted to go home early on May 1. They were also given the option to stay home the following day.
There are reportedly six weeks’ worth of editing left on the 62-episode season.
What will happen to MasterChef Australia 2023?
Production insiders told The Daily Telegraph that while MasterChef will hit screens eventually, the timeline for its premiere is unclear.
The publication confirmed the series finished filming a month ago at Melbourne’s Flemington MasterChef headquarters, with a winner already having been crowned.
“With all episodes already in the vault, they will be watching every episode carefully to ensure there is nothing that will distress viewers and more pertinently, family and close friends,” one source said.
“It is not something you can get wrong so they will take their time.”
A TV executive noted that there is “really no precedent for this” situation.
“Word is that the show will continue, it really is a matter of what, how and when so that it is appropriately respectful to the family and to viewers,” they said.
“There is talk of a tribute special, as well as some sort of tribute at the top of the first episode.”
While it is currently “way too soon”, the network will eventually “look at a new judge for the next season”.
Following Jock’s death, Daily Mail Australia revealed he was secretly battling bowel cancer. However, his cause of death is yet to be revealed.
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