Squiz Today – Tuesday, 2 May

THE SQUIZ
That sound you could hear at about 2pm yesterday was a national gasp as news broke online that celebrity chef and host of Masterchef Australia died suddenly in Melbourne on Sunday at 46yo. The cause has not been confirmed. “For those who crossed his path, became his mate, or were lucky enough to be his family, keep this proud Scot in your hearts when you have your next whisky,” his family said in a statement yesterday. Zonfrillo is survived by his 3rd wife Lauren and 4 children, including 5yo Alfie and 2yo Isla.

WHO WAS HE AGAIN?
The Glaswegian was born Barry Zonfrillo to an Italian father and a Scottish mother. He said the mix of cultures fuelled his love of food, and after quitting school at 15yo, he started his chef’s apprenticeship. By the time he was 17yo, Zonfrillo was working for renowned chef Marco Pierre-White in London before moving to Oz in 2000. In his 2019 memoir Last Shot, Zonfrillo claimed his former boss had “saved his life” as he struggled with heroin addiction and homelessness – and other recollections were questioned in a viral Good Weekend article in 2021. In 2020, he became one of the 3 new judges of Masterchef Australia alongside Melissa Leong and Andy Allen, and his Scottish humour and penchant for 3-piece suits earned him a solid fanbase, including a very-pregnant Katy Perry… That role made him a star even though he had other big ventures, including the award-winning Restaurant Orana in Adelaide (which shut in 2020) and its foundation that focused on promoting Indigenous ingredients.

SO WHAT ABOUT THE MASTERCHEF LAUNCH?
Good question because the new season was scheduled to kick off last night, and the PR for it was in full swing… Ten said in a statement that it was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the news and that Masterchef would be pulled from broadcast this week. It’s uncertain when the latest season will be aired, but reports this morning say it’s likely to kick off next week. “Jock’s charisma, wicked sense of humour, generosity, passion and love for food and his family cannot be measured,” Ten said. And good mate Jimmy Barnes led the tributes from friends and fans, tweeting that Zonfrillo “was like a brother to me”.

Evacuations continue in Sudan

The conflict in Sudan is unravelling as people flock to cities like Port Sudan, on the country’s east coast, to secure humanitarian aid and board evacuation ships. The power struggle between 2 rival military groups – Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – continues, despite the attempted ceasefire to allow civilian evacuations. Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, is being hit especially hard – millions of people remain trapped as the city’s faced intense shelling in recent days. Reports say at least 500 people have died and thousands have been injured, but experts say the actual numbers could be much higher. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sent his emergency relief chief to the country to work out what immediate relief – such as food, water and fuel – is needed. “The scale and speed of what is unfolding in Sudan is unprecedented in the country,” Guterres said.

Home prices on the up as the RBA mulls rates

Aussie home prices have risen for the 2nd consecutive month, increasing by 0.5% overall in April. The data released yesterday gives weight to the experts’ views that the property price dip is over… CoreLogic’s Tim Lawless says, “not only are we seeing housing values stabilising or rising across most areas of the country, a number of other indicators are confirming the positive shift”. But not in every capital city… Sydney led the pack, with prices rising 1.3% in April, and Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide all had rises of under 1%. Canberra and Hobart’s prices stayed put, while Darwin saw a 1.2% fall. Today’s the first Tuesday of the month, and you know what that means… The Reserve Bank board will meet to decide whether or not to raise interest rates. Economists are split on tipping if the cash rate will remain steady at 3.6% or go up to 3.85%.

A smokin’ announcement…

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler will address the National Press Club today, and he’s packing an announcement to eliminate ‘black market’ vapes. Nicotine vapes are already illegal without a doctor’s prescription but ‘under the counter’ sales are flourishing. Vaping critics say legal loopholes and weak enforcement at the border have allowed the products into Australia in large volumes. Butler wants to stop that and reports this morning say next week’s Budget will include $234 million for a range of measures to reduce vaping, including to boost enforcement by Border Force and state/territory police. “Just like they did with smoking, Big Tobacco has taken another addictive product, wrapped it in shiny packaging and added flavours to create a new generation of nicotine addicts,” Butler will say today. The official register says 1,635 applications for nicotine vapes have been approved, but Butler has said there are more than 2 million Aussie vapers.

Football comings and goings

It was a busy Monday for blokes running football leagues… Yesterday, the AFL confirmed Andrew Dillon will become its new CEO. That means after what’s been described as a “long and exhaustive search”, the best candidate was working next door to outgoing boss Gillon McLachlan as the league’s head of operations. Chairman Richard Goyder has been under fire for the drawn-out recruitment process after McLachlan announced he was leaving more than a year ago. He said Dillon was the “standout choice” because “he’s been involved in every major decision”. But it wasn’t such a happy day for Rugby Australia – its boss Andy Marinos announced his shock resignation just days after earning praise for putting the troubled organisation back in the black. He says he’s off to pursue other opportunities and is set to depart the role next month – 3 months before the Wallabies take the field at the World Cup in France.

Gala-vanting on the red carpet

It’s an early start for us Aussies who want to tune into fashion’s night of nights in New York City… The 2023 Met Gala’s red carpet shenanigans start at 8am AEST today, but if that clashes with your start-the-day routine, never fear: there are always countless galleries (like these from last year) showcasing the style spectacles on show. This year’s set to be special, with the celebrities, young creatives and fashion industry stalwarts attending asked to dress in homage to the late Chanel/Fendi designer Karl Lagerfeld. The event’s been famously organised by Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour since 1995, and it’s not just about pretty people preening… It’s a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and a pretty successful one at that. Vogue says, “Year after year, the event raises 8-figure sums”. You can watch all the glamour while you chug your morning cuppa on Vogue’s livestream of the event here.

Like many employers, Blackpool Zoo in England is looking for more staff. Unlike other employers, it wants to dress its new workers up as giant birds and put them to work chasing away seagulls. It truly is an unusual jobs market right now…

The Super Mario Bros Movie has become the 10th biggest animated flick of all time globally, crossing US$1 billion at the box office yesterday. Following the adventures of Brooklyn plumbers Mario and Luigi down a mysterious pipe, New York’s underground waste system must be more magical than we imagined…

What is just as magical as we imagined is Korea’s man perm trend. It’s subtle but spectacular…

8.00am – Met Gala – New York

12.30pm (AEST) – Minister for Health & Aged Care Mark Butler addresses the National Press Club – Canberra

2.30pm (AEST) – RBA interest rate decision

7.30pm – SBS TV’s new season of Who Do You Think You Are? premieres featuring Barry Humphries

PM Anthony Albanese heads to the UK to attend the coronation of King Charles

World Tuna Day

International Harry Potter Day

Birthdays for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (1972), Lily Allen (1985), Princess Charlotte (2015)

Anniversary of the deaths of Leonardo da Vinci (1519), J. Edgar Hoover (1972), and Osama bin Laden (2011)