Jamie Oliver

Nearly 30 years ago, Jamie Oliver hit British TV screens with The Naked Chef, beginning a career arc that has seen him become a bestselling author and social campaigner.

He started helping out in his parents' pub aged just eight, and struggled at school, but after making the move into cookery he flourished, first in top kitchens and then behind the camera.

Cultural ubiquity and campaigning documentaries followed, though his business fortunes took a significant hit after his Jamie's Italian chain collapsed in 2019. Seven years later, he's betting that he's learnt from his mistakes, as he relaunchs the chain. At the same time his campaigning over school food standards has started to bear fruit again.

Stephen Smith speaks to those who know Jamie Oliver best.

Contributors

Genarro Contaldo - chef and mentor

Elişa Roche - chef and former participant in 'Jamie's Kitchen' documentary

Giles Coren - food critic and friend

Ed Loftus - Global Restaurant Group Director for the Jamie Oliver Group

Sheila Dillon - presenter of Radio 4's The Food Programme

Archive:

ITV This Morning interview with Jamie Oliver

An Italian Christmas: Recipes from the River Cafe (BBC)

The Naked Chef (BBC and Optomen Television)

Jamie’s Kitchen (Channel 4, Talkback Productions and Fresh One Productions)

Presenter: Stephen Smith

Producers: Beth Ashmead Latham, Nathan Gower, Tom Gillett

Editor: Justine Lang

Programme Coordinators: Rosie Strawbridge, Sabine Schereck, Maria Ogundele

Sound Engineer: James Beard