MasterChef's Andy Allen wasn't sure he'd return to show after Jock: 'Felt so wrong'

Andy Allen has got candid about what it was like filming the newest season of MasterChef, nearly a year on from Jock Zonfrillo's shock death.

With the hit cooking series premiering its new season Monday night, the show took on a new format with three new judges — Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli — joining Andy as they mentor up-and-coming chefs.

Andy has opened up to Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little on the Carrie & Tommy show about his initial reservations about coming back to film the hit show after losing his co-star and best friend Jock.

"It’s nearly a year. Sometimes it feels like yesterday and other times it feels like it was a long, long time ago. It was hard. It was really hard. I didn't actually know if I was going to do it (MasterChef) again," Andy said.

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“It just felt so wrong to do it without him, because we just loved it so much together and walking back into that kitchen was huge. It was… there was just this weight of grief over me.”

Andy said he wasn't sure if he'd be able to get through filming another season, saying the first scene was the hardest to film.

“I just didn’t know if I’d be able to get through it. 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. But I think it only lasted until… it was a hard first scene. I’m literally the only person in that kitchen. Just myself, no contestants," he said.

"There were definitely times throughout the series (where it became emotional). And I just couldn’t tell when it was going to hit me, but the grief just got to me."

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Andy said his wife and Jock's wife Lauren helped him decide to return for another year on MasterChef.

"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. My only fear was that I couldn’t do it and I couldn’t be what they needed me to be.”

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