Jamie Oliver's wife Jools shares adorable throwback snaps of the television chef as he celebrates his 50th birthday
Now Jamie Oliver 's just hit another milestone, with wife Jools hailing him as an 'absolute legend' in a heartfelt tribute marking his 50th birthday.
On Tuesday, Jools posted a warm video montage on Instagram, featuring candid family photos and sweet moments with their five children - Poppy, 22, Daisy, 21, Petal, 15, Buddy, 13, and River, 7.
The pictures showed everything from wedding pictures and family hugs to intimate behind-the-scenes shots, capturing the closeness of their life together.
'Happy birthday my absolute LEGEND, we love you SO much xxx and cannot wait to celebrate you today — 50!' she wrote.
'WOW we are so proud of everything you have achieved so far, you are wonderful xxxx love you xxx.'
'WOW we are so proud of everything you have achieved so far, you are wonderful xxxx love you xxx'
Jamie, best known to a generation of viewers as The Naked Chef, responded in the comments with a flurry of heart emojis.
The couple, who met as teenagers in Essex and married in 2000, are now approaching their 25th wedding anniversary this June.
Over the years, Jamie has often spoken about the grounding role Jools and their family play in his busy life. In a 2021 interview he said: 'I feel very lucky. I started dating Jools when I was 18. She's been a really solid and utterly important part of my life and my job's quite exacting.
'It expects quite a lot, and she's my rock. She allows me to do my thing but then come home and be me … And I think she still quite likes me, which is really nice.'
His mother, Sally Oliver, also shared a public message: 'A very Happy 50th Birthday to our dear son, Jamie. We are truly blessed and grateful to have had this unfailingly kind soul in our lives for the last 50 years.'
Jamie rose to fame in the late 1990s with his accessible cooking style and cheeky Essex charm. His first television series and cookbook, The Naked Chef, launched in 1999 and turned him into a household name.
Over the past two decades, he has published dozens of cookbooks and, in 2023, released his first children's story, Billy and the Giant Adventure.
That same year, he withdrew a separate children's book following criticism from First Nations Australians, issuing an apology.
Long a vocal advocate for children's nutrition, Oliver made national headlines in 2005 when he launched a campaign to reform school dinners, taking aim at the now-infamous Turkey Twizzlers.
His Ministry of Food programme, which recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, continues to offer practical food education in schools and communities across the UK.
His television credits include Jamie's School Dinners, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, Jamie Cooks Italy, and Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast.
Although his restaurant empire, including Jamie's Italian, went into administration in 2019, Oliver has since returned to the dining scene.
His latest opening, on Catherine Street in London, launched in 2023.
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