Jean-Christophe Novelli's cancer survivor son may never talk

Jean Christophe Novelli and his wife have revealed their heartbreak at being told by doctors their three-year-old son may never learn to speak.

The TV chef’s son Valentino has overcome his battle with cancer, but has now been diagnosed with autism.

Michelle Kennedy, Novelli’s partner of 11 years, told Hello! magazine: "We’re having to accept that he may be non-verbal, which is very sad. He can’t even say 'Mummy', which is heartbreaking."

Read more: Jean-Christophe Novelli opens up about his baby son's cancer diagnosis

Valentino was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma - a rare form of cancer that develops from nerve cells left behind from development in the womb - when he was just six weeks old. His cancer is now in remission.

Novelli, 58, and Kennedy have two other sons together - 11-year-old Jean Frankie and seven-year-old Jacques.

The French TV chef said previously of Valentino’s cancer diagnosis: “There have been nights when I have sat alone, crying, asking God why this has happened to my little boy and not to me. I wish I could change places with him.”

But Novelli and his family have had cause to celebrate as his 32-year-old singer-songwriter daughter Christina Novelli has married her music manager music manager Tara Sirrell in a “fairytale” wedding on the Greek island of Santorini.

The chef said: "It was the perfect wedding. "It was so romantic, like watching a movie. It’s beautiful to see two people who are so in love, and all the people there were the perfect ingredients of the most amazing recipe.

"I was so proud because, even though she’s an adult now, my daughter is still my baby.”

Christina is Novelli’s only child with first wife Tina.