Celebrity Hunted contestant and Hell’s Kitchen star Jean-Christophe Novelli, 58, left viewers emotional on last night’s episode as he rushed to hospital with Hunted partner and fellow chef, Aldo Zilli, 63, to be with his fiancée, Michelle Kennedy and three-year-old son, Valentino after his regular hospital check-up.
The youngster battled a rare childhood stage four cancer neuroblastoma and a year after going into remission, he was diagnosed with severe autism.
Sunday night’s episode saw the two TV chef’s drop their escape plan and divert to Cambridge, taking extreme measures in an audacious plan to get to the hospital and out again without being caught.
But Channel 4 viewers were left a little baffled at the Hunter’s controversial decision.
The pair headed to Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge so Jean-Christophe could see his three-year-old son.
Despite the huge risk they were taking of being caught, Jean-Christophe was adamant to get to the hospital to see his family as he “hasn’t missed an appointment yet”.
The chef changed into a builders disguise and managed to briefly see his loved ones before making a quick escape in another change of clothes, a set of doctors scrubs, as the Hunters tracked his location and rushed to the scene.
But the controversial decision to attempt to capture him at such a sensitive moment left viewers questioning whether it was wrong.
Fans instantly took to Twitter to discuss the sensitive nature of the visit: “The cancer story after #CelebrityHunted is the saddest I’ve ever seen. what a horrible horrible disease,” one viewer quipped, accompanied with crying emoji’s.
Another wrote: “’It’s very predictable he would come here’ Come on Hunter’s, what parent WOULDNT wana be there for their child’s Hospital appointment – NO matter what?”
A third pleaded: “Please don’t capture him whilst he’s attending an appointment for his son with cancer. Given the circumstances.”
“If I was the Hunters, I would drive a little slower, take a little longer to search for things, and let that poor man see his son at his appointment,” a fourth shared.
“Bit harsh to catch him at a hospital… this is for Stand up to Cancer!” Someone else said.
The Hunters promised to “treat the situation sensitively”, but it wasn’t enough for some viewers: “They’re totally going to bust into the hospital consulting room aren’t they?”
Another user praised Jean-Christophe for his dedication: “There is nothing a parent wouldn’t risk to be there for a child. Nothing they wouldn’t do. I applaud Jean Christophe.”
In 2017, Valentino was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma at only six weeks old. It has one of the lowest survival rates and he had to endure harsh chemotherapy in order to fight the disease.
Once in remission, the family were dealt another crushing blow as they learned their son had a rare genetic condition, Microdeletion Syndrome and in a recent interview with HELLO! Magazine, they revealed the heartbreaking truth that their son may never talk.
This series of the revamped version of Channel 4’s popular reality show, Hunted, see celebrities attempt to escape the Hunters for 14 days in order to win money for charity, Stand Up To Cancer.
This particular series boasts the likes of ITV’s jungle campmates Georgia Toffolo and Stanley Johnson, rugby superstar’s Martin Offiah and Gavin Henson, TV chef’s Jean-Christophe and Aldo and The Only Way Is Essex star’s Lucy Mecklenburgh and Lydia Bright.
Express.co.uk approached Channel 4 for comment.
Celebrity Hunted continues next Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4.
