Latest news with #JoolsOliver
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Jamie Oliver opens up on his 'very neurodiverse family' as he reveals that understanding how their children see things differently allows him and wife Jools to be 'better parents'
Jamie Oliver has opened up on his 'very neurodiverse family', revealing that understanding how their children see things differently allows him and wife Jools to be 'better parents'. The celebrity chef, 50, recently detailed his own emotional toll of struggling with dyslexia ahead of his new hour-long Channel 4 special, titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution. And in a new interview, Jamie has told how he navigates his 'bonkers family' with Jools, 50, and their children, amid diagnoses of dyslexia, ADHD and ASD (autism spectrum disorder) in the past year. The TV star shares daughters Poppy, 23, Daisy, 22, and Petal, 16, and sons Buddy, 14, and River, eight, with his former model spouse, with the eldest two having flown the nest. Though not revealing details on who was diagnosed, Jamie revealed to The Sunday Times Magazine that he and Jools discuss their children in bed every night and have 'learnt to understand that their behaviour is because they're seeing things differently'. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. He added that being aware of their children's differences 'allows you to be a better parent'. Neurodivergent is a term that describes people whose brains function differently, encompassing conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. And amid the conditions affecting many members of his family, Jamie went on to joke that home life is 'bonkers', remarking: 'Imagine four neurodiverse people at the dinner table trying to get their point across.' Jamie also went on to say that he feels attitudes towards neurodivergence are generational, noting that 'older people' tend to reflect on not having these issues 'when they were young', However, the father-of-five counters that people 'didn't know as much about our brains 30 years ago'. It comes as Jamie recalled being branded a 'stupid dunce' at school and said his learning issues left him feeling 'worthless, stupid and thick'. Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling and difficulties with processing. Ahead of his documentary release, he told The Sunday Times: 'I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff and I'm oversharing with you because I've got to f***ing work this s**t out, I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve. 'I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help,' he revealed. 'There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then.' The Essex-born chef, now a household name thanks to The Naked Chef, said the kitchen 'saved' him and gave him purpose when the classroom let him down. 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***.' The NHS says dyslexia affects up to one in ten Brits, often causing trouble with reading, writing and spelling. But many, like Jamie, excel in other areas such as problem-solving and creativity. Jamie is using his platform to call for urgent changes in schools, including early dyslexia screening and more teacher training in neurodiversity. He said: 'I've only got love for teachers, we need to appreciate them more. But they want to be trained, they want to have the tools to notice, understand and react.' His hard-hitting documentary, airing soon on Channel 4, will question whether the UK education system is doing enough to support children with dyslexia - and if not, what needs to change. Jamie has already met with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and says this campaign is even tougher than his famous fight for healthier school dinners.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jamie Oliver reveals recent diagnoses in his "neurodiverse family" as he embarks on a mission to get better support
Jamie Oliver has been incredibly open about how his dyslexia has affected him throughout his life, especially during his education, and has consistently advocated for better support for neurodivergent children. It seems, however, that the celebrity chef isn't the only member of his family to grow up with a learning difference, as he revealed that some of his children are in the same situation. In a brand new interview with The Sunday Times, the 50-year-old shared that there have been various diagnoses of dyslexia, ADHD and ASD (also known as autism spectrum disorder) in his "very neurodiverse family" over the last year. Though he did not go into any more detail than this, he said that he and his wife Jools have in fact "learned to understand that their [children's] behaviour is because they're seeing things differently," and that "being aware of that allows you to be a better parent". Jamie also called his family life "amazing but bonkers", joking: "Imagine four neurodiverse people at the dinner table trying to get their point across." He further rebuked the attitudes taken towards neurodivergence by older generations, saying: "Older people tend to have the 'we didn't have that when we were young' attitude. We just didn't know as much about our brains 30 years ago." The celebrity chef has been working on an hour-long documentary for Channel 4 called Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, which will explore the challenges facing dyslexic children and interrogate what the British government can change to support them within education. Jamie also opened up about the emotional toll that making the documentary took on him, telling the publication: "I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff. 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 [referring to his crying during the interview] – the concept of being worthless [when you're] young is real. It's really triggering." Though the father-of-five has been vocal and open about his struggle with the learning difficulty, especially during his school days, for a long time, he only received his official diagnosis in January of this year.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jamie Oliver's wife Jools shares adorable throwback snaps of the television chef as he celebrates his 50th birthday
He's fed prime ministers, fired up school kitchens and famously bared all in the name of good food. 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.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Best Thing to Make Mom for Mother's Day, According to Jamie Oliver
Celebrity chef, cookbook author and restaurateur Jamie Oliver has been sharing his simple and delicious recipes with fans for years. Way back in 1999, Oliver burst onto the scene as the star of The Naked Chef, his show that focused on stripping recipes back to their essential elements. Over the years, he's written more than 30 cookbooks, founded a restaurant group, worked hard to make school lunch (in the U.K. and the U.S.) better, and built a family with his wife, Jools. And this weekend, Jools will be the one getting the special Jamie Oliver treatment, as the chef and the couple's five (yes, five!) kids celebrate her for Mother's help you honor the moms in your life in a Jamie Oliver-approved manner, we asked the chef—and one of the stars of the upcoming season of Chef's Table: Legends on Netflix—for his best Mother's Day menu advice when we caught up with him over brunch at Jamie's Italian on the Royal Caribbean ship Symphony of the Seas. Related:😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter🍳🍔 Brunch is a popular meal for Mother's Day, but Oliver prefers to kick off things a bit earlier. "I think on Mother's Day, it's just nice to cook her anything," he says. "People always say, 'What is the best recipe for Mother's Day?' I'm like, literally anything will make her very emotional. But I think breakfast is always a really good one." Oliver grew up cooking with his parents (his dad was a chef and his mom is a great cook), so he'll make sure to include the kiddos in the Mother's Day fun. For Jools, he likes to make a breakfast tray of her favorite things and puts some of the kids on decorating duty. "You make it all nice with flowers. Kids do all the little, you know, cards and stuff. I think just making it sentimental is the way [to go]," he says. And what exactly should be on the breakfast tray? It all depends on what your mom loves, but the mix of things Oliver makes for Jools might provide helpful inspiration. "My wife always loves crunchy savory pancakes, avocado, smoked salmon and fresh, little salsas," he says. "She loves really good bread and amazing jam. I get her favorite one. She's also obsessed with coffee." Related: You can find tons of recipe inspiration on Oliver's website, but here are a few ideas that might help you build your perfect Mother's Day breakfast tray. Jools is a fan of crunchy, savory pancakes, which immediately made us think of latkes. This recipe starts with easy potato pancakes, then adds on all sorts of delicious toppings so Mom can build her perfect bite. This fun take on avocado toast is a good way to make the meal feel surprising and special. If you're not sure your mom will like it, you can serve the banana and avocado toast separately and then assemble a few bites as an experiment for a fun family activity. Crispy feta fried eggs went viral almost two years ago and we've yet to grow tired of them. It's hard to beat the combination of crispy cheese, creamy avocado, soft tortilla and a runny egg yolk that pulls it all together. We suspect Mom would approve! Up Next:
