The one lesson I’ve learned from life

Jean-Christophe Novelli

JEAN-CHRISTOPHE NOVELLI, 61, is a Michelin-starred chef. Born in France, he opened his first restaurant Maison Novelli in London in 1996. Twice divorced, he has a daughter, Christina, 35, and lives with wife Michelle Kennedy and their three sons, Jean, 13, Jacques, nine and Valentino, five.

DON’T PUT PEOPLE DOWN; BUILD THEM UP

AT SCHOOL I was put in a class of kids with learning disabilities. I had ADHD, but was a happy, positive kid. Our teacher was a bully and sadly, most of those kids would cry all day. One week we got a substitute teacher, and she was kind, it made an enormous difference.

At 18, I was sent to an elite camp in Pau in the French Pyrenees for a year to do National Service. The way they treated us was outrageous, constantly putting us down instead of building us up. I thought, ‘If one day I become a leader, I will never use the same practice.’ I was grateful for that lesson.

When I lost my job 30 years ago, Rick Stein and Jill, his wife at the time, really looked after me. They got me a job with Keith Floyd, who was just a genius.

There have been occasions where I lost it — such as on reality show Hell’s Kitchen [Novelli made headlines by smashing plates and throwing cutlery in a furious outburst on the competitive show in 2005], but I’ve never been physical or crossed a line with anyone.

If I’d been a nightmare in the kitchen, my staff wouldn’t have stayed. I opened my first restaurant, Maison Novelli, in 1996; my sous-chef was 17 when I met him and he stayed with me for 12 years.

I absolutely love teaching. I opened the Novelli Academy in Hertfordshire in 2005 and I am privileged to have people visit from all over the world.

On Cooking With The Stars I was paired with Anne Hegerty. She has Asperger’s, so I had to tailor my teaching to her. My five-year-old son Valentino has severe autism, so my wife, Michelle Kennedy, helped me plan how to teach Anne.

Soon it will be 50 years I’ve been cooking. I still enjoy it as much as I did on the very first day.

■ COOKING With The Stars is on Tuesdays, 9pm, Virgin Media One