‘Anonymity is our greatest gift’: Jamie Oliver says he’d choose ‘a normal life’ over fame if given the choice again
Jamie Oliver has claimed he would choose a life of anonymity over fame, if he was given the chance to go back and do things again. The TV chef was interviewed by broadcaster Kirsty Young for her debut podcast, Young Again, which is available on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. In each episode, Young revisits pivotal moments in the lives of her guests, and asks them what they wish they’d known at the time – along with what they would change if given the opportunity. In the third episode of the podcast, which is out now, Young spoke with Oliver about his rapid ascent to fame aged just 23, following the release of his BBC cooking show The Naked Chef. Oliver, now 45, also discussed what he learnt from a young age working in his parents’ pub, his relationship with wife Jools, and the challenge of balancing his activism and campaigning work with running a business empire. “If you could go back, would you not do it?” Young asks him during the episode. “Definitely,” Oliver responds. “I’m not trying to say ‘shoulda woulda coulda’ but if I came back on Earth and did again, I would go to (set up the) pub, and I would have a normal life and I would be aware that anonymity is our greatest gift that we will never give any currency to. “And to have just enough and to trot on, and to be the best you can at your thing, and be part of a community, and to have a mutuality… That is very very very precious.” Oliver and his wife met when they were 17, and have been together ever since. They have children together. The TV chef’s remarks come not long after his business enjoyed a major boost thanks in part to his work producing shows such as Jamie’s £1 Wonders. The programme achieved an average of 1.4 million viewers as it helped households deal with the cost-of-living crisis by creating cheap and nutritious meals. His empire, which includes TV shows, recipe books, branded products and several lucrative partnerships, along with his numerous franchised restaurants around the world, made a pre-tax profit of £7.7m in 2022, a 17.5 per cent increase on the past year. Sales for the Jamie Oliver Cookery School, which offers cooking classes in London and online, also grew by more than a third last year. Amid a return to the hospitality industry after lockdowns during the pandemic, he also announced the launch of a new restaurant in London’s Catherine Street, scheduled to open in November. Last month, Oliver called for more free school meals help from the government, urging them to “put children’s health first” and widen the eligibility. Under current rules, only children from households with an income below £7,400 – after tax and benefits – are eligible. Following a major campaign by The Independent,London mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to roll out free primary school meals to all pupils in the capital in a year-long pilot. The first three episodes of Young Again, the new podcast from Kirsty Young, are available now on BBC Sounds. Future episodes will be broadcast weekly on BBC Radio 4 at 11am from 3 October. Read More Jamie Oliver’s businesses notch up higher profits after £1 Wonders TV success Jamie Oliver calls for vulnerable children to be given free school meals Tom Kerridge: Free school meals should be part and parcel of education Is there such a thing as British pizza? Three recipes from Michel Roux’s new fuss-free French cookbook How to cook to keep your gut healthy
2023-10-03 18:45
Trump civil fraud trial enters second day as business empire hangs in balance
By Jack Queen Donald Trump’s civil trial continues in Manhattan on Tuesday in a case that threatens to
2023-10-03 18:45
Oil steadies on strong US dollar, mixed supply cues
By Natalie Grover LONDON Oil prices stabilised on Tuesday, after falling to a three-week low in the previous
2023-10-03 18:28
Five things to know about Trump's New York fraud trial
His business reputation and his own self-image are on the line, but he calls the case a sham.
2023-10-03 18:26
Physics Nobel Prize rewards science on a 'tiny timescale'
This year's Nobel Prize in Physics rewards research into electrons in "flashes of light".
2023-10-03 18:26
Gunshots reported in Bangkok luxury mall
Videos on social media show crowds of shoppers evacuating the Siam Paragon mall in central Bangkok.
2023-10-03 18:23
How RFK Jr. could hurt Biden, Trump in 2024 election with independent bid
By Jeff Mason and Heather Timmons WASHINGTON Long-shot U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s likely independent bid
2023-10-03 18:21
US Supreme Court to hear case targeting consumer financial watchdog
By John Kruzel WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court is set on Tuesday to hear a challenge to the
2023-10-03 18:20
Japan ex-FX diplomat: Yen's slow fall makes imminent intervention less likely
By Tetsushi Kajimoto and Leika Kihara TOKYO The slow pace of the yen's recent fall makes imminent market
2023-10-03 18:17
Hunter Biden due in Delaware court to face federal gun charges
The president's son faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of three federal criminal charges.
2023-10-03 17:53
Arsenal's Champions League preparations hit by travel chaos
Arsenal's preparations for their Champions League clash at RC Lens have been severely disrupted by a five-hour delay at Luton Airport. The Gunners were due to
2023-10-03 17:51
Officials involved in Spurs-Liverpool VAR ‘error’ not selected for this weekend
The two match officials stood down from duty following Saturday’s incident that saw Liverpool wrongly denied a goal will not be involved in this weekend’s Premier League fixtures. Darren England and Dan Cook were VAR and assistant VAR respectively when a “significant human error” resulted in Luis Diaz’s effort incorrectly being disallowed for offside in the Reds’ 2-1 loss at Tottenham. Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) on Sunday announced the pair had been replaced for their next matches – England was due to be fourth official that day at Nottingham Forest v Brentford, with Cook to be assistant referee for Monday’s Fulham-Chelsea clash, but Craig Pawson and Eddie Smart stepped in. And on Tuesday, England and Cook did not feature as the Premier League released its list of officials for matchweek eight this Saturday and Sunday. Simon Hooper, the on-field referee for the Tottenham-Liverpool contest and fourth official for the subsequent Fulham game, is to be VAR when Everton host Bournemouth on Saturday. After Diaz’s 34th-minute effort at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, when the score was 0-0, was disallowed PGMOL put out a statement saying “a significant human error occurred” and that a goal should have been given but “the VAR failed to intervene”. The PA news agency understands Liverpool have formally requested the audio from PGMOL of the conversation between Hooper and England related to the incident. Liverpool issued a statement on Sunday night saying they would “explore the range of options available given the clear need for escalation and resolution”. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-10-03 17:48
