Jock of all traders HOMELESSNESS, DRUGS & MASTERCHEF

The TV chef dishes on the trials he overcame to rise to the top

- REBEKAH HEBENTON

On MasterChef Australia, judge Jock Zonfrillo has won hearts as the charming Scot whose wealth of dad jokes is almost as extensive as his knowledge of food. Now, the three-hat chef is letting fans into his life with a deeply personal new memoir.

When the Weekly chats with Jock, 45, and his wife Lauren, 40, they are nervously awaiting the release of Last Shot. It’s a raw and honest retelling of his life, and he admits it was challenging rehashing some of his worst life choices.

“Certain points were dreadful,” he shares. “I’ve made some pretty poor decisions that had a big impact on people around me, so I found it difficult sitting there recounting those moments and relationships in my life.”

Though he says it feels very vulnerable to have his life laid bare to public scrutiny, Jock is happy he finally gets to tell his story in his own words.

“There are so many chunks of my life story that have been printed and nobody really gets to understand why I came to be the way I am. So, the opportunity to have everything down as a full story means that there’s a greater level of understanding about me as a person.”