Beloved MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo, who passed away on April 30 this year, will be seen for the last time on the culinary show at the grand finale to be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar at 9pm on July 17. Zonfrillo and fellow judges Melissa Leong and Andy Allen would be deciding Australia’s next MasterChef in the final episode that is usually packed with heart-wrenching moments.

Zonfrillo’s sudden death had pushed the premiere of MasterChef Australia Season 15 back by a week. In a statement released after his death, Network 10 and Endemol Shine Australia called Zonfrillo a “beloved member of the MasterChef Australia family” and said “he will be best remembered as a loving father, husband and son”.

Brent Draper — the contestant who had appeared in Season 13 (2021) but quit halfway through the competition for mental health reasons — is one of the two finalists on MasterChef Australia 15. He will be facing off with Rhiannon Anderson. The winner will take home the trophy and a prize money of AUD 250,000.

Brent has worked as a digital content creator for brands before entering the MasterChef Australia kitchen for the second time. He had been winning praises from the judges for his seafood dishes and use of hibachi. Rhiannon, who always wears a smile on her face, has shown her forte in tropical cuisine and Asian flavours.