Latest news with #dyslexia
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Jamie Oliver admits his dyslexia made him feel 'dumb' and 'misunderstood' at school - after revealing some of his children are also neurodivergent
Jamie Oliver has opened up about the struggles he faced growing up with dyslexia, revealing it made him feel 'dumb' and 'misunderstood'. The celebrity chef, 50, is sharing his experience with the condition in a new Channel 4 documentary called Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, which is due to air on June 9. Ahead of the documentary, he told in a new interview that he wouldn't know where he'd end up if he didn't have his passion for cooking, due to the lack of support for dyslexia during his school days. Speaking to Radio Times, Jamie explained: 'It's no secret that I didn't do very well at school. 'I felt misunderstood and, quite frankly, dumb.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. He continued: 'I was a disengaged pupil but, growing up in a pub and being surrounded by food on a daily basis, I found cooking at a very young age. 'I had something I was good at, something that built my self-esteem when school – which I left with just two GCSEs – was eroding it. 'I was one of the lucky ones. If I didn't have cooking, who knows where I'd have ended up.' Explaining his time at school with dyslexia, he said: 'In my day (the 1980s), I was removed from class to go to "special needs", which is now referred to as Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). 'It wasn't my teachers that were the problem, but our education system. It's simply not built to support dyslexia or neurodiversity, which together represent a whopping 25 percent of every classroom. 'That's why this issue is so important to me. It's this 25 percent of kids that slip through the cracks. 'We need change. We need to recognise that dyslexic brains just think and express their learning in a different way. 'Embracing that will be a game-changer for our kids with dyslexia, but studies show the whole class thrives in an inclusive classroom. It's better for everyone.' It comes after Jamie revealed some of his children have recently been diagnosed as neurodivergent, telling how understanding how their children see things differently allows him and wife Jools to be 'better parents'. He 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'. 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'. Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling and difficulties with processing. 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.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Jamie Oliver on the undiagnosed condition he struggled with at school
Jamie Oliver revealed his struggles with undiagnosed dyslexia made him feel "stupid" at school, leading to 'total resentment for education'. Oliver shared his experience in a new Channel 4 documentary, Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, which airs on June 9, describing the process of opening up as "viscerally painful". Having left school with two GCSEs, Oliver said the kitchen "saved" him, as he felt unsupported due to a lack of dyslexia knowledge at the time. Oliver felt "stupid, worthless and thick" and is now campaigning for greater support in schools, including early screenings for dyslexia and more teacher training. Dyslexia, affecting up to one in 10 people in the UK, can impact coordination, organisation, and memory, not just reading and writing, according to the British Dyslexia Association.
Daily Mail
2 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.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Jamie Oliver emotionally reveals his dyslexia made him feel 'worthless and stupid' at school as he discusses lack of support in new documentary
Jamie Oliver has opened up about the emotional toll of struggling with dyslexia when he was growing up, revealing it made him feel 'stupid'. The celebrity chef, 50, has reflected on his own experience with dyslexia in a new hour-long Channel 4 special, titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution. Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling and difficulties with processing. Ahead of his documentary's release, Jamie recalled being branded a 'stupid dunce' at school and said his learning issues left him feeling 'worthless, stupid and thick'. 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. 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. '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. The Essex-born chef, now a household name thanks to The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen, said the kitchen 'saved' him and gave him purpose when the classroom let him down (pictured in 2010) 'Not acknowledging or allowing a six, seven or eight-year-old to express their intelligence… that's kind of child abuse,' he said. 'This is heavy, because neurodivergent kids are falling between the cracks. They end up resenting education, which leads to anger, frustration, poor health, crime, prison and all the horrible things you don't want to think about. He added: 'I ran from school thinking, 'F*** you,' but I was lucky because I had the kitchen.' Tim Hancock, commissioning editor at Channel 4, said: 'There's no more effective campaigner than Jamie, and now he's turning his expertise to a subject close to his heart. 'I'm thrilled Channel 4 is following him back on the campaign trail. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. It can affect individuals of all intelligence levels and can result in poor or inconsistent spelling and writing - along with potential struggles following directions or being organised.
Yahoo
2 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.
