Latest news with #Jamie'sDyslexiaRevolution
Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Jamie Oliver opens up about 'desperately hard' health battle over the years
Jamie Oliver has openly discussed his journey with dyslexia after being diagnosed last year, having not been aware of the condition for all of his life Jamie Oliver has opened up about the realities of ageing as he struggles with turning 50 and his efforts to stay as healthy as possible for as long as he possibly can. Jamie has been one of the UK's most famous chefs for decades, after bursting on to the scene in 1999 when he first started filming The Naked Chef at the age of just 23. Since then, the chef has gone on to present a variety of cooking shows as well as having his own programmes. Jamie has continued to work hard raising awareness of the importance of healthy eating, nearly three decades after his career starter show aired. Now the star has started to talk more about his struggles with living with dyslexia, a form of neurodivergence which he was diagnosed with earlier this year. Speaking about his overall health, Jamie told the Sunday Times he was working hard to preserve what strength and vitality he had left. He expressed: "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." But this is not the first time the celebrity chef has talked about his physical health. Back in December 2024, Jamie spoke about struggling with several painful slipped discs in his back. At the time he spoke to The Times telling them about the demands of his job, and how it has caused great strain on his body. He said: "I've had four years of three slipped discs. It's about managing it. My job doesn't allow me not to work. "If I stop, this whole thing falls apart. I've had weeks where I've been able to stand for only 40 seconds at a time." However, it isn't just his physical health he is focussing on, Jamie is looking into his mental health too. The star is coming to terms with his dyslexia diagnosis and is only know just releasing he has been living with a condition he didn't know anything about for most of his life. Dyslexia is a form of neurodevelopmental disorder, it can also be known as a learning difficulty as it affects how the brain processes information. Just like other forms of neurodivergence such as dyspraxia, dyslexia can affect memory, personality and, in some cases, people's ability to do physical movements. Jamie has been sharing his experience of finding out about his dyslexia diagnosis, and what it actually means, with Channel 4. He is producing a new documentary titled 'Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution'. The chef revealed that filming the documentary has had a strong impact on him. Jamie told the Sunday Times just how emotionally the journey has been. He admitted: "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."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Dyslexia made me feel worthless at school - but it's been a superpower'
Successful businesswoman and author Maddy-Alexander Grout was reduced to tears as a schoolgirl struggling with dyslexia. Having put her shame behind her, Maddy now embraces her differences and is showing support for Jamie Oliver's important new campaign Much like Jamie Oliver, Maddy-Alexander Grout does not look back on her schooldays with much affection. Similarly to Jamie, Maddy had to navigate school life with dyslexia, which saw her unfairly labelled as "stupid" and "slow". Now 41, successful businesswoman and author Maddy has painful memories of crying during spelling tests, and remembers how, even though the words were potentially spelt correctly, "the letters were around the wrong way". Initially, Maddy's teacher believed her difficulties reading from the board were due to short-sightedness, and so she was given a pair of glasses she didn't even need. Maddy, from Southampton, laughingly admitted: "I fudged the test because I wanted to wear them." At the age of six, Maddy was diagnosed with dyslexia, a widely misunderstood learning difference that affects a person's reading, writing, and spelling abilities. As a creative child, Maddy loved drawing, painting and reading, and had a particular love of comics such as The Beano and The Dandy. However, visual learner Maddy found she read in a "different way" from her peers, reading quickly but then having to go back and re-read certain parts. Reading aloud in front of the class was also a nightmare. Maddy told the Mirror: "I used to get filled with absolute dread when the teacher at school used to make you stand up and read in front of the class. I'd always stumble over my words and repeat words or miss words out, and I used to get told off for it, and kind of ashamed." In his one-hour Channel 4 documentary, Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, the TV chef opens up about the challenges he faced as a pupil with dyslexia, pushing for early screenings and better neurodiversity awareness. Speaking with The Sunday Times, Jamie shared that making the doc had been the "most viscerally painful" thing he's ever done, reflecting: "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." This is something Maddy can relate to all too well. She shared: "I wasn't supported in the right way. I think with the right support, people who are divergent—and you know, that includes dyslexia—can really thrive. So what Jamie is doing to raise awareness is absolutely incredible. I can really relate to how he felt at school because there were times when I felt like that." Following her initial diagnosis, Maddy switched schools as she wasn't getting the help she so desperately needed. She liked her next teacher, who helped her to "thrive", but this was far from the end of her difficulties. In high school, Maddy received external support from an English coach, but didn't receive any extra exam time or other means of assistance now available for pupils who are dyslexic. Maddy recalled: "I remember this one English class being asked to read something from Romeo and Juliet, and I think I actually even got one of the main characters' names wrong. I think I called him something else that was not even in the book, and it was just like, 'Where did that come from? ' "But it was really hard, you know, imagine like standing up in front of 30 people, knowing that you're gonna get it wrong, like that's it, it's scarring, and it does stay with you as a child." Outside of academics, socialising was also a struggle. As a youngster, Maddy suffered the cruelties of being picked on, and also struggled when it came to making friends, "smothering" those she did get close to. At that time, Maddy hadn't yet been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition which often coexists with dyslexia. This common link is something that Maddy, who now works as an ADHD money and business coach, is keen to draw attention to. Looking back with a far better understanding of herself, Maddy now knows there was never anything wrong with her, aware that learning in a neurotypical setting was just a case of trying to "put a CD in a tape player". Considering what she'd say to her younger self, Maddy said: "Believe in yourself, you're not broken, you're just different." Although Maddy is comfortable in her own skin now, it's been a long journey to get there. From her early to late teens, Maddy felt "completely and utterly useless". Her ADHD also affected the way Maddy dealt with money, landing her in £40,000 worth of debt. She was thankfully able to pay this hefty sum off, using self-taught "tips and tricks", which she discusses in her ADHD-focused finance book, Mad About Money. Indeed, as well as accepting her differences, Maddy has learned to embrace them and is eager to show that there are many benefits to having dyslexia and ADHD, which aren't talked about enough. Highlighting how those with dyslexia can often be "really strategic thinkers" and excellent storytellers, Maddy remarked that "lots of dyslexic people go on to be really good entrepreneurs." Pointing at the prime example of Jamie, Maddy noted: "I mean, Jamie Oliver is an incredible entrepreneur. He's not just a chef, he's somebody who is actually going out there and telling his story and changing lives, and that's what I wanted to do with my book. "I think there is a common misconception that dyslexic people are not very clever when actually we are really clever, we just have different brains that process things in a different way." Jamie has spoken out about how entering the kitchen "saved" him, allowing him to carve a path for himself after feeling alienated by the traditional school system. For Maddy, this lifeline was public speaking, a talent which has allowed her to find her voice and speak up for others navigating similar journeys, through channels such as her Mad About Money podcast. Nowadays, Maddy is happy to "show up imperfectly" and encourages others to learn more about their brains so that they can show up as the person they're meant to be. She's also cautioned against shame, urging others to see the strengths in their "different operating systems " instead of flaws. Maddy is now mum to Ben, 10, and Harriet, 6, both of whom have dyslexia. Although she's seen improvements in how dyslexia is handled in modern schools, she believes there's still some way to go. Expressing her wishes for the future, Maddy continued: "I want there to be more education for children. Not just education for children who are dyslexic, but I'd like to see education for all children in school about what dyslexia actually is, so that they don't bully their friends, or they don't have negative conversations or call people stupid. "I want people to actually be talking about the positives about dyslexia as well because I think that's something that's not done enough. I think you need more people who have dyslexia who are successful at speaking in schools. I think that would be a really good thing to show people that you can achieve things and not to see yourself as negative." You can catch Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution on Channel 4 at 9 pm on June 9.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jamie Oliver's new show is 'viscerally painful' as school trauma 'hits a nerve'
TV chef Jamie Oliver has opened up about his struggles with dyslexia in new Channel 4 documentary, Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, revealing he was made to feel 'stupid, worthless and thick' as a schoolboy Over the course of his stellar career, Jamie Oliver has produced countless hit TV shows, from adventurous travel documentaries to accessible cook-alongs. However, his most recent television offering strikes a profoundly personal note, unlike anything the Naked Chef has released before, delving into the topic of dyslexia. Nowadays, Jamie is known to be one of the brightest stars of the culinary world, with his numerous cookbooks on display in kitchens up and down the country. The 50-year-old father of five has also used his celeb status for good, emphasising the importance of providing nutritious meals for children to ensure the best possible start in life. Such a legacy may well have seemed like an unachievable dream to the school-aged Jamie, who was cruelly blasted as a "stupid dunce" by his peers. In his one-hour Channel 4 documentary, Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, the Essex-born chef opens up about the challenges he himself faced as a youngster growing up with dyslexia, while advocating for improved dyslexia support in schools, with an emphasis on early screenings and better neurodiversity awareness. Delving into his experiences of making the doc in an interview with The Sunday Times, Jamie shared that it was the "most viscerally painful" thing he's ever done. Remarking that he was "unpacking quite a lot of stuff", Jamie told the publication: "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." He continued: "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." As explained by the NHS, dyslexia is a "common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing, and spelling", estimated to affect as many as one out of every ten people in the UK. This lifelong learning difficulty, previously known as word blindness, can present various daily challenges, from spelling to reading speedily. However, those who have it have been found to frequently excel in other areas, including problem-solving and creative thinking. Sadly, Jamie, who left school with two GCSEs, was made to feel "stupid, worthless and thick" with his insecurities leading to a "a hatred of words and a total resentment for education". He remembered: "I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help. There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then." Jamie was thankfully able to carve a rewarding path for himself, thanks to his extraordinary cooking talents, a path that he has reflected "saved" him. He added: "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 s***."
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- 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."
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Jamie Oliver says 'amazing but bonkers' as he shares that his children are neurodivergent
Jamie Oliver says 'amazing but bonkers' as he shares that his children are neurodivergent 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 Jamie Oliver (Image:) ) 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. Article continues below 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. Article continues below 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."
