Jamie Oliver becomes 50: From school failure to the kitchen icon!

Jamie Oliver becomes 50: From school failure to the kitchen icon!

Essex, Vereinigtes Königreich - On May 27, 2025, Jamie Oliver, the internationally known TV chef, celebrates his 50th birthday. The way there was characterized by ups and downs. Oliver, who had to deal with dyslexia at school, developed a passion for the kitchen early on. In his parents' pizzeria in Essex, he already helped as a child and discovered his talent, especially when he prepared a roast dinner and was praised by his father. His breakthrough came when he was discovered by a television team while filming a restaurant.

1999 Jamie Oliver started his first own cooking show with "The Naked Chef" on BBC. The show quickly made him favorite with the audience, with his relaxed manner and the uncomplicated recipes attracted a wide audience. He made his first notes on beer covers and dictated his first cookbook with a recording device. This creativity made it possible for him to become a media and brand phenomenon that today not only represents products and cookware, but also political concerns, such as the improvement of school meals and the introduction of a sugar tax in Great Britain.

The challenges of the restaurant chain

The past few years have not been easy for Oliver. In May 2019, his restaurant group had to register bankruptcy. This led to the closure of 25 restaurants, including well -known names such as "Jamie’s Italian" and "Barbecoa", and the loss of around 1,000 jobs. Despite these setbacks, Oliver is grateful for the support of his employees and suppliers while he regrets the difficult situation. Currently, only three of its restaurants are open in Great Britain, while over 22 locations were closed and 1,000 jobs are at risk.

In addition to the challenges with his restaurant chain, Oliver is faced with a falling turnover in the main shopping streets of the UK, which also contributes to closing other gastronomic companies. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, 16 stores in Great Britain, which still exacerbates the situation.

A look at 20 years Jamie Oliver

Nevertheless, Jamie Oliver remains a formative face in the culinary landscape. The premiere of "The Naked Chef" was 20 years ago. The show revolutionized cooking by showing that it can enrich social life. Chef cook Samin Nosrat emphasizes that the early seasons of "The Naked Chef" contributed to making cooking accessible to everyone. Oliver in particular encouraged young men to take on responsibility in the cooking and to question gender roles that many men once brought to leave the kitchen tasks to their partners.