
Dyslexia doco 'most painful thing' for Jamie Oliver
Chef Jamie Oliver says a new documentary about dyslexia was the "most viscerally painful" thing he has ever done.
The celebrity chef has lived with the learning difficulty all his life and will now present a one-hour documentary on Britain's Channel 4 titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution.
The show will dive into the challenges and issues children with dyslexia face in Britain while asking whether the government can do more to fix the education system.
"I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff," Oliver told the Sunday Times.
"I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve.
"Genuinely, of all the things I've ever done, this documentary is the most viscerally painful."
"I've seen so many high-flying, talented, grown men cry about this - I've just done it to you - the concept of being worthless (when you're) young is real. It's really triggering."
According to the UK's National Health Service, dyslexia is described as a "common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling".
Having left school with two secondary education certificates, the chef opened up about the challenges he faced, adding that the kitchen "saved" him.
"I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help," he said.
"There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then."
He also described feeling "stupid, worthless and thick" and developing "a hatred of words and a total resentment for education" while other students called him a "stupid dunce", leaving him with a "deep-seated feeling of constantly being behind".
"I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside.
"The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of shit."
The Essex-born chef and author is known for hosting cooking shows and documentaries including The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen along with publishing a series of cookbooks including Jamie's 30-Minute Meals.
He has also been an avid campaigner over the years including calling on the government for greater provisions for healthier school meals and playing a role in imposing a sugar tax on soft drinks.
He is now campaigning for greater support in schools, calling for early screenings for dyslexia and neurodiversity.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
Chef Jamie Oliver says a new documentary about dyslexia was the "most viscerally painful" thing he has ever done.
The celebrity chef has lived with the learning difficulty all his life and will now present a one-hour documentary on Britain's Channel 4 titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution.
The show will dive into the challenges and issues children with dyslexia face in Britain while asking whether the government can do more to fix the education system.
"I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff," Oliver told the Sunday Times.
"I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve.
"Genuinely, of all the things I've ever done, this documentary is the most viscerally painful."
"I've seen so many high-flying, talented, grown men cry about this - I've just done it to you - the concept of being worthless (when you're) young is real. It's really triggering."
According to the UK's National Health Service, dyslexia is described as a "common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling".
Having left school with two secondary education certificates, the chef opened up about the challenges he faced, adding that the kitchen "saved" him.
"I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help," he said.
"There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then."
He also described feeling "stupid, worthless and thick" and developing "a hatred of words and a total resentment for education" while other students called him a "stupid dunce", leaving him with a "deep-seated feeling of constantly being behind".
"I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside.
"The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of shit."
The Essex-born chef and author is known for hosting cooking shows and documentaries including The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen along with publishing a series of cookbooks including Jamie's 30-Minute Meals.
He has also been an avid campaigner over the years including calling on the government for greater provisions for healthier school meals and playing a role in imposing a sugar tax on soft drinks.
He is now campaigning for greater support in schools, calling for early screenings for dyslexia and neurodiversity.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
Chef Jamie Oliver says a new documentary about dyslexia was the "most viscerally painful" thing he has ever done.
The celebrity chef has lived with the learning difficulty all his life and will now present a one-hour documentary on Britain's Channel 4 titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution.
The show will dive into the challenges and issues children with dyslexia face in Britain while asking whether the government can do more to fix the education system.
"I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff," Oliver told the Sunday Times.
"I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve.
"Genuinely, of all the things I've ever done, this documentary is the most viscerally painful."
"I've seen so many high-flying, talented, grown men cry about this - I've just done it to you - the concept of being worthless (when you're) young is real. It's really triggering."
According to the UK's National Health Service, dyslexia is described as a "common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling".
Having left school with two secondary education certificates, the chef opened up about the challenges he faced, adding that the kitchen "saved" him.
"I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help," he said.
"There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then."
He also described feeling "stupid, worthless and thick" and developing "a hatred of words and a total resentment for education" while other students called him a "stupid dunce", leaving him with a "deep-seated feeling of constantly being behind".
"I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside.
"The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of shit."
The Essex-born chef and author is known for hosting cooking shows and documentaries including The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen along with publishing a series of cookbooks including Jamie's 30-Minute Meals.
He has also been an avid campaigner over the years including calling on the government for greater provisions for healthier school meals and playing a role in imposing a sugar tax on soft drinks.
He is now campaigning for greater support in schools, calling for early screenings for dyslexia and neurodiversity.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
Chef Jamie Oliver says a new documentary about dyslexia was the "most viscerally painful" thing he has ever done.
The celebrity chef has lived with the learning difficulty all his life and will now present a one-hour documentary on Britain's Channel 4 titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution.
The show will dive into the challenges and issues children with dyslexia face in Britain while asking whether the government can do more to fix the education system.
"I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff," Oliver told the Sunday Times.
"I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve.
"Genuinely, of all the things I've ever done, this documentary is the most viscerally painful."
"I've seen so many high-flying, talented, grown men cry about this - I've just done it to you - the concept of being worthless (when you're) young is real. It's really triggering."
According to the UK's National Health Service, dyslexia is described as a "common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling".
Having left school with two secondary education certificates, the chef opened up about the challenges he faced, adding that the kitchen "saved" him.
"I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help," he said.
"There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then."
He also described feeling "stupid, worthless and thick" and developing "a hatred of words and a total resentment for education" while other students called him a "stupid dunce", leaving him with a "deep-seated feeling of constantly being behind".
"I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside.
"The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of shit."
The Essex-born chef and author is known for hosting cooking shows and documentaries including The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen along with publishing a series of cookbooks including Jamie's 30-Minute Meals.
He has also been an avid campaigner over the years including calling on the government for greater provisions for healthier school meals and playing a role in imposing a sugar tax on soft drinks.
He is now campaigning for greater support in schools, calling for early screenings for dyslexia and neurodiversity.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


West Australian
7 hours ago
- West Australian
Authors inspire senior students with stories of identity, culture and creativity at reading challenge panel
Senior students at Geraldton Senior High School were treated to an inspiring Q&A-style author panel on Thursday as part of the 2025 Premier's Reading Challenge, which has extended its reach to Year 11 and 12 students for the first time. The event featured renowned Geraldton-born author Holden Sheppard, award-winning graphic novelist Aska and Jayden Boundry — a Noongar language teacher and cultural consultant, didgeridoo player, traditional dancer and storyteller with Ngalak Nidja. Each shared their own unique creative journeys. Sheppard spoke candidly to the students about his struggles with high school and identity, and how writing became a powerful outlet. Aska delved into the art of combining words and visuals to tell stories, and spoke of her time as a quantum physicist and how that shaped her into the author she is today. Boundry reflected on the importance of culture and oral storytelling in his work. The Premier's Reading Challenge, which had previously been open only to students from kindergarten to Year 10, was expanded this year to include Year 11 and 12 students across WA and encourages students to develop a love of books, reading and improve language and literacy skills. The panel of exceptional authors and storytellers had a profound effect on Geraldton senior students as they became more engaged as the discussion continued. The main messaged discussed was that reading and writing are not only a 'nerdy' pastime, but also a powerful tool that can be used for expression, education and culture — something meaningful and personal.


Perth Now
12 hours ago
- Perth Now
'Amazing but bonkers': Jamie Oliver shares some of his children are neurodivergent
Jamie Oliver has a "very neurodiverse family". The 50-year-old chef - who has Poppy, 23, Daisy, 22, Petal, 16, Buddy, 14, and River, eight, with wife Jools, also 50 - has struggled with learning disorder dyslexia for all his life but was only formally diagnosed in January this year, and the last 12 months has also seen some of his kids diagnosed with conditions such as ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Although the 'Naked Chef' star declined to name which of his kids are neurodiverse, he believes understanding their conditions have helped him and Jools to become "better" parents, and they like to discuss the needs of their brood in bed. He told The Sunday Times magazine: "[We've] learnt to understand that their behaviour is because they're seeing things differently. "Being aware of that allows you to be a better parent." Speaking about their family life, he added: "[It's] amazing but bonkers. Imagine four neurodiverse people at the dinner table trying to get their point across." Jamie turned 50 on May 27, and though he found hitting the milestone "a bit s***", he is determined to look after himself so he can continue living life to the full for his long as possible. Jamie added: "[Turning 50] isn't great, in fact it's a bit s***. "I'm trying desperately hard to be the healthiest version of me, working on the right things at the gym and physiotherapy. 'Hopefully, I've got a few more years in me yet... 'I'm still here, I'm still alive. I'd like the fifties to be different. I'd like them to be celebratory. I like the idea that my fifties require a different Jamie.' To mark his birthday, the TV star is planning 'a mini festival, a rave in the vegetable patch' at his home in Essex, East England, where he plans to call in some favours from fellow chefs. He said: "[I want them to] 'feed a bunch of reprobates until the early hours. I haven't thrown a party for a while, so I'm probably due one.' And Jamie said his hope for the future is to "get old cooking" and mentor the next generation of chefs. He said: "To get old cooking, travel less and work with more young chefs. The happiest version of me is when I'm bigging up other people and shining a light on them.' Meanwhile, Jamie and Jools will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary later this month but the 'Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution' star doesn't believe grand gestures have been necessary in their relationship. Asked the key to their happy marriage, he said: "Don't have high expectations. You'll be let down all the time. Set them correctly and you'll get nice surprises. "Don't hold grudges, hang around and it might work itself out."


The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Dyslexia doco 'most painful thing' for Jamie Oliver
Chef Jamie Oliver says a new documentary about dyslexia was the "most viscerally painful" thing he has ever done. The celebrity chef has lived with the learning difficulty all his life and will now present a one-hour documentary on Britain's Channel 4 titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution. The show will dive into the challenges and issues children with dyslexia face in Britain while asking whether the government can do more to fix the education system. "I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff," Oliver told the Sunday Times. "I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve. "Genuinely, of all the things I've ever done, this documentary is the most viscerally painful." "I've seen so many high-flying, talented, grown men cry about this - I've just done it to you - the concept of being worthless (when you're) young is real. It's really triggering." According to the UK's National Health Service, dyslexia is described as a "common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling". Having left school with two secondary education certificates, the chef opened up about the challenges he faced, adding that the kitchen "saved" him. "I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help," he said. "There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then." He also described feeling "stupid, worthless and thick" and developing "a hatred of words and a total resentment for education" while other students called him a "stupid dunce", leaving him with a "deep-seated feeling of constantly being behind". "I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside. "The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of shit." The Essex-born chef and author is known for hosting cooking shows and documentaries including The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen along with publishing a series of cookbooks including Jamie's 30-Minute Meals. He has also been an avid campaigner over the years including calling on the government for greater provisions for healthier school meals and playing a role in imposing a sugar tax on soft drinks. He is now campaigning for greater support in schools, calling for early screenings for dyslexia and neurodiversity. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) Chef Jamie Oliver says a new documentary about dyslexia was the "most viscerally painful" thing he has ever done. The celebrity chef has lived with the learning difficulty all his life and will now present a one-hour documentary on Britain's Channel 4 titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution. The show will dive into the challenges and issues children with dyslexia face in Britain while asking whether the government can do more to fix the education system. "I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff," Oliver told the Sunday Times. "I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve. "Genuinely, of all the things I've ever done, this documentary is the most viscerally painful." "I've seen so many high-flying, talented, grown men cry about this - I've just done it to you - the concept of being worthless (when you're) young is real. It's really triggering." According to the UK's National Health Service, dyslexia is described as a "common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling". Having left school with two secondary education certificates, the chef opened up about the challenges he faced, adding that the kitchen "saved" him. "I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help," he said. "There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then." He also described feeling "stupid, worthless and thick" and developing "a hatred of words and a total resentment for education" while other students called him a "stupid dunce", leaving him with a "deep-seated feeling of constantly being behind". "I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside. "The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of shit." The Essex-born chef and author is known for hosting cooking shows and documentaries including The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen along with publishing a series of cookbooks including Jamie's 30-Minute Meals. He has also been an avid campaigner over the years including calling on the government for greater provisions for healthier school meals and playing a role in imposing a sugar tax on soft drinks. He is now campaigning for greater support in schools, calling for early screenings for dyslexia and neurodiversity. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) Chef Jamie Oliver says a new documentary about dyslexia was the "most viscerally painful" thing he has ever done. The celebrity chef has lived with the learning difficulty all his life and will now present a one-hour documentary on Britain's Channel 4 titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution. The show will dive into the challenges and issues children with dyslexia face in Britain while asking whether the government can do more to fix the education system. "I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff," Oliver told the Sunday Times. "I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve. "Genuinely, of all the things I've ever done, this documentary is the most viscerally painful." "I've seen so many high-flying, talented, grown men cry about this - I've just done it to you - the concept of being worthless (when you're) young is real. It's really triggering." According to the UK's National Health Service, dyslexia is described as a "common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling". Having left school with two secondary education certificates, the chef opened up about the challenges he faced, adding that the kitchen "saved" him. "I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help," he said. "There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then." He also described feeling "stupid, worthless and thick" and developing "a hatred of words and a total resentment for education" while other students called him a "stupid dunce", leaving him with a "deep-seated feeling of constantly being behind". "I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside. "The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of shit." The Essex-born chef and author is known for hosting cooking shows and documentaries including The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen along with publishing a series of cookbooks including Jamie's 30-Minute Meals. He has also been an avid campaigner over the years including calling on the government for greater provisions for healthier school meals and playing a role in imposing a sugar tax on soft drinks. He is now campaigning for greater support in schools, calling for early screenings for dyslexia and neurodiversity. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) Chef Jamie Oliver says a new documentary about dyslexia was the "most viscerally painful" thing he has ever done. The celebrity chef has lived with the learning difficulty all his life and will now present a one-hour documentary on Britain's Channel 4 titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution. The show will dive into the challenges and issues children with dyslexia face in Britain while asking whether the government can do more to fix the education system. "I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff," Oliver told the Sunday Times. "I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve. "Genuinely, of all the things I've ever done, this documentary is the most viscerally painful." "I've seen so many high-flying, talented, grown men cry about this - I've just done it to you - the concept of being worthless (when you're) young is real. It's really triggering." According to the UK's National Health Service, dyslexia is described as a "common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling". Having left school with two secondary education certificates, the chef opened up about the challenges he faced, adding that the kitchen "saved" him. "I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help," he said. "There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then." He also described feeling "stupid, worthless and thick" and developing "a hatred of words and a total resentment for education" while other students called him a "stupid dunce", leaving him with a "deep-seated feeling of constantly being behind". "I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside. "The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of shit." The Essex-born chef and author is known for hosting cooking shows and documentaries including The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen along with publishing a series of cookbooks including Jamie's 30-Minute Meals. He has also been an avid campaigner over the years including calling on the government for greater provisions for healthier school meals and playing a role in imposing a sugar tax on soft drinks. He is now campaigning for greater support in schools, calling for early screenings for dyslexia and neurodiversity. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)