Andy Allen has revealed how he was convinced to come back to MasterChef Australia after the tragic death of his co-star Jock Zonfrillo.
The food critic, 35, has returned to the Channel Ten set after the shock passing of his fellow judge Jock, who died in April last year just one day before season 15 was set to air.
Andy recently admitted he was uncertain whether he wanted to return to the show after the tragedy, and has now revealed what made him decide to do so.
Speaking on Hit Network's Carrie and Tommy after Monday's season 16 launch, Andy told how Jock's widow Lauren Fried was one of the people convinced him.
'I spoke to Loz (Lauren), Jock's wife. The people around me as well, my parents. They said it's what he would have wanted,' he told radio hosts Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little.
Andy Allen has revealed how he was convinced to come back to MasterChef Australia after the death of his co-star Jock Zonfrillo (centre) while speaking to Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little
'My only fear was that I couldn't do it and I couldn't be what they needed me to be.'
'I just didn't know if I'd be able to do it justice, to give the show what it needed because there was so much grief attached to that kitchen,' he added, maintaining his composure though clearly sounding emotional.
'There were definitely times throughout the series [where it become emotional]. And I just couldn't tell when it was going to hit me, but the grief just got to me.'
Andy also told The Project panel how he was 'so glad' he decided to push through the grief and return to the show, after admitting he nearly didn't come back.
'It was tough. I didn't know if I was going to do it. I'm so glad that I did, I really am, but it was hard,' he shared on Monday.
Allen said Jock's widow Lauren Fried (pictured right with Jock) was one of the people convinced him to return to the show as judge despite the tragedy
'The first scene [of the show] is just me in the kitchen alone, all dark, just me... that got me going good.'
He went on to say everything changed 'once the contestants came in, once the new three judges came in', and he found himself getting 'swept up'.
'It was just business. That whole MasterChef thing, the spirit, the passion, it just sweeps anyone up, and it did the exact same thing to me,' he added.
The new MasterChef Australia judges faced audiences for the first time on Monday night and received mixed reactions.
This year, Allen is joined by French celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, Melbourne food critic Sofia Levin, and MasterChef season one runner-up Poh Ling Yeow. All pictured
Andy returned to the Channel Ten cooking show alongside some new faces in a panel shake-up for the 16th season.
They replace outgoing judge Melissa Leong and Jock, following his tragic death, aged 46, in Melbourne last year.
Jock's sudden death was still being investigated in March almost a year after his body was found in a hotel room.
The MasterChef star was found dead at Zagame's House hotel in Carlton, near Melbourne's CBD, at about 2am on April 30 last year.
Jock was found dead at Zagame's House hotel in Carlton, near Melbourne 's CBD, at about 2am on April 30 last year. He is survived by wife Lauren and their two youngest children. All pictured
At the time, his wife Lauren was in Italy with their two young children and had phoned Victoria Police to request a welfare check because he stopped answering her calls.
'The death of Jock Zonfrillo remains under investigation by the coroner,' a spokesperson for the Coroner's Court of Victoria said. 'This is an active investigation.'
His death came just one day before the 2023 season of MasterChef was due to premiere, and it was delayed in arriving on air for a week 'out of respect'.
Network 10 dedicated the fifteenth season to Zonfrillo and his family as they aired his scenes posthumously, acknowledging his 'sudden and tragic passing'.