A Life Focused on Family and Food
French chef, restaurateur, and MasterChef judge Jean-Christophe Novelli has always had a deep passion for food. However, his true heart lies with his family. He shares that they are the reason he does everything – nothing else.
Speaking about his wife Michelle Kennedy, 50, daughter Christina, 39, and sons Jean, 18, Jacques, 14, and Valentino, 10, he says, “They are the reason – nothing else.”
Their home life in Hertfordshire, England, at the family’s 14th-century farmhouse in the village of Tea Green, is both cute and chaotic. While it might make for great TV, Jean-Christophe prefers to keep their private life out of the spotlight. He mentions that his family wouldn’t feel comfortable being part of a TV documentary series or reality show like his long-time colleague Gordon Ramsay.
“It’s not something you want to expose. It’s not easy when one of your kids has tremendous issues,” he says of Valentino, who has autism and is non-verbal.
“We cope very well and we’ve managed to turn around a not very nice situation to something that’s becoming so enjoyable for all of us. Do we want to share that? No, I don’t think so. Gordon, obviously, whatever he touches turns to gold, and his family are fantastic – I would much rather be on the couch watching them.”
When he isn’t in the MasterChef studio cooking up some great telly with fellow judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Andy Allen, Jean-Christophe finds time to connect with his family. When asked which of his kids he loves the most, he responds, “Every time that we are together there is a natural bond. We don’t have to be together, we want to be together. It’s like we have the same blood and have the same mission.”
He also mentions that new dad Andy Allen, 37, has been seeking some parenting tips from him. “I’m an expert in changing nappies,” he laughs. “My wife and I have been changing nappies for the last 17 years. Just to raise a kid with love every single day, that’s the most important thing.”
Jean-Christophe has even offered to help with the food at recently engaged Sofia’s wedding. “I had the privilege to meet Sofia’s lovely fiance and I was very impressed,” he says. “If I am in Australia, I will be there and I would be happy to do the food.”
Bonding with Robert
This season’s line-up of celebrity guest judges includes impressive names such as Duchess Meghan, Jimmy Barnes, and Robert Irwin. However, Jean-Christophe felt a special connection with Robert, whom he compares to fellow chef Jamie Oliver.
“I don’t compliment. I don’t talk to please. I say it because I mean it,” he explains. “The first time I met Jamie I said, ‘Bloody hell.’ I was very impressed. Robert’s nonstop, he’s actually quite amazing the way he handles it all.”
He also recalls that his wife was a massive fan of Robert’s late father, Steve. “I said, ‘She used to go and see your dad all the time.’ And he stopped and it was like [he was having] a flashback of his dad. He’s such a lovely kid.”
Jean-Christophe reveals that Robert was keen to work with him again! “He said, ‘Are you going to come on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!?’”
“I said, ‘Robert, I can’t. You could pay me millions of pounds, I would not go on that show! I don’t mind jumping from the plane, but I can’t eat maggots, I can’t be next to a dirty fly.’”
