Jamie Oliver is one of the world's most famous chefs. You can watch him
on TV in over 100 countries and read his recipe books in 29 languages.
In fact, Jamie is the UK's second-biggest sel ling author of all time, after
JK Rowling. There are also Jamie Oliver DVDs, food products, restaurants,
magazines and apps for your phone.
2 Jamie was born in Essex, England, on 27th May 1975. When he was only
eight he started helping in the kitchen in his parents' pub. After Jamie left
college, he worked at the famous River Cafe in London for three years. He
made his first TV series, The Naked Chef, in 1999. Jamie quickly became
a celebrity and in the same year he cooked lunch for the British Prime
Minister.
3 In 2001 Jamie opened a restaurant in London called Fifteen - but it wasn't
a typical restaurant. Jamie took 15 young unemployed people and taught
them to become chefs. The programme about the restaurant, Jamie's
Kitchen, was on TV every week and became a big success. Jamie now
has restaurants all over the UK and he is going to open restaurants in
Australia and other countries around the world in the next five years.
4 Jamie is also famous for his 'better food' campaigns. In 2005 he made
a TV series called Jamie's School Dinners because he wanted schools to
give children healthier meals. Because of Jamie's campaign, the British
government agreed to spend an extra £280 million on school meals. In
another series, Jamie's Ministry of Food, he helped people to stop eating
fast food and taught them to cook meals using fresh ingredients instead.
5 Jamie got married in June 2000 and he lives in London and Essex with his
w ife, Jools, and their four children. He loves travelling, playing the drums
and riding around London on his scooter. At the moment Jamie is w rit ing
a new book of recipes, and when he's at home he enjoys relaxing with his
family - as well as cooking, of course!