Jamie Oliver, a celebrity chef and best-selling author, discusses the ups and downs of his career in this episode. From struggling with dyslexia to becoming a TV star, he candidly shares his experiences. Oliver reflects on his childhood, his dream of running a pub, and his commitment to campaigning for better food. They also discuss their 23-year-long journey, the challenges in the restaurant business, and the importance of second chances. Despite it all, Oliver would choose the life he has now over a quiet pub lifestyle.
The average time spent cooking has significantly decreased over the years, emphasizing the need to bring cooking back into people's lives and preserve the art of preparing meals from scratch.
Growing up in a pub influenced Jamie Oliver's love for food, as it served as a community hub that exposed him to diverse experiences and shaped his understanding of inclusivity and the importance of connecting with people.
Deep dives
Cooking as a Dying Art
Jamie Oliver discusses how the average time spent cooking has drastically decreased over the years, leading to the decline of cooking as a skill. In his early career, the average time spent cooking per household was 46 minutes, but recent studies show it has dropped to just 23 minutes. Oliver attributes this decline to fast-paced lifestyles and changing eating habits. He emphasizes the importance of bringing cooking back into people's lives and preserving the art of preparing meals from scratch.
Childhood Memories and the Influence of Pubs
Oliver reflects on his childhood, growing up in a pub next to a rough council estate. He shares how his parents' pioneering approach to running the pub and their passion for cooking influenced his love for food. Oliver describes how the pub served as a community hub where people from different backgrounds gathered, including city boys, farmers, and gypsies. The pub environment exposed him to diverse experiences and shaped his understanding of inclusivity and the importance of connecting with people.
Overcoming Dyslexia and Finding Purpose in Cooking
Oliver opens up about his struggle with dyslexia and how it affected his education. Despite facing challenges in school and being labeled as 'special needs,' cooking became his salvation. He discovered his talent and passion for culinary arts at a young age and realized that he excelled in the kitchen. Oliver credits cooking for saving him and giving him a sense of purpose. This revelation led him to pursue a career in cooking and eventually to his success as a renowned chef and TV personality.
In Young Again, Kirsty Young asks her guests what advice they would give to their younger selves and in this episode Jamie Oliver shares with Kirsty the ups and downs of his career.
Despite having always struggled with the written word he’s published 25 cookbooks and is one of the UK’s best-selling authors. His original dream was to run a country pub but his TV career took off and led to cookbooks, a restaurant chain and high-profile campaigns for better food. It’s been a life lived in public. If he could go back, would he do it all again? He talks to Kirsty candidly about whether he’d choose the life he’s got or swap it for a quiet life running a pub instead.
Producer: Sam Peach
Content Editor: Richard Hooper
Editor: Alice Feinstein
Senior Technical Producer: Duncan Hannant
Presenter: Kirsty Young
A BBC Audio Production
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