Jean-Christophe Novelli and Michelle Kennedy welcome baby boy
The TV chef becomes a father for the fourth time aged 55.
Celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli has announced the birth of his fourth child with fiancée Michelle Kennedy - a baby boy named Valentino Louis.
Jean-Christophe shared the happy news of the arrival of his newborn son with Hello! magazine, revealing the couple's baby name choice and discussing becoming a father at the age of 55.
The Hell's Kitchen star has been engaged to Michelle, 40, since 2007 and she will be his third wife. The pair already share two beautiful sons - Jean Frankie, eight, and Jacques, four - with baby Valentino Louis being their third. Jean-Christophe seems delighted to have three boys, describing it as 'the perfect hat-trick'. He said, 'I have always wanted three sons and this is the perfect hat-trick. All the ingredients are here for a lovely recipe. It's wonderful to have children'.
Valentino Louis was born last month and weighed 6lbs 1oz, but unfortunately the TV chef wasn't there to see the birth.
It turned out that Valentino's birthday was a very special day for more than one reason, with it also being Jacques' first day at school, which the couple agreed needed the support from one parent. While Jean-Christophe was dropping the kids off at school, his 30-year-old daughter Christina from his first marriage stayed with Michelle, even helping to cut the cord.
Jean-Christophe explained, 'It was Jacques' first day at big school, which was a big deal for him. I was hoping to be there for the birth but Michelle insisted that I took the boys. I knew it was the best thing for everybody.
'As soon as he was born at 9am Christina sent me text with a picture. I cried. It was so magical.'
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Becoming a dad at 55 would phase some fathers, but the TV star is taking everything in his stride, insisting that age is just a number.
Of being an older parent he said, 'I will be at the traditional retirement age when Valentino is at secondary school but age is not important; I still feel young and I expect I will be running for my bus pass!'.
The family will continue to live in their 14th century farmhouse in Hertfordshire, which is also his cookery school The Novelli Academy.
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