With a string of popular restaurants, a seemingly endless collection of cookbooks and a lovable TV personality, he has established himself as one of the world’s richest celebrity chefs.
But Jamie Oliver admits he had to overcome countless obstacles as he worked his way to the top after being diagnosed with dyslexia.
Oliver, 49, discovered he had dyslexia as a child, which causes problems with reading, writing and spelling, and has since discussed his subsequent struggles with the learning disability in a new Channel 4 documentary.
During the hour-long programme, the chef explores dyslexia and its impact on 1.3 million children in the UK.
He said: ‘It’s no secret that I struggled at school, but I was one of the lucky ones. I knew I wanted to be a chef, so I needed to go somewhere, a catering school, where I could thrive.
“The kitchen saved me.”
Holly Willoughby (left) and Jamie Oliver (right) have both overcome their individual struggles with dyslexia and become hugely successful in their respective fields
With a string of popular restaurants, a seemingly endless collection of cookbooks and a lovable TV personality, Oliver has established himself as one of the world’s richest chefs.
Oliver joins a host of high-profile celebrities who are leading successful careers while living with the condition, including former This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby.
Discussing the condition on the ITV daytime show in 2022, the presenter said she didn’t see it as a ‘disability’, adding: ‘I think it makes me who I am.’
Speaking to entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, who is also dyslexic, she said: ‘I don’t see it as a disability at all, I see it as a real feather in my cap.
‘I’m very proud of being dyslexic, I think it makes me who I am. I think half of the things in life that I think I’m quite good at are because I’m dyslexic.”
Although Holly is proud to say she is dyslexic, she admitted that she felt less positive about the condition when she was younger.
“For me because I’m not very good at spelling, I was ashamed of that for years,” she told This Morning viewers in 2021.
‘Dyslexia is such a broad spectrum, people have so many different forms of it. Yes, I’m also dyslexic and I had to find my own toolbox and for me that meant finding someone who understood this and who could teach me how to access those tools because it wasn’t well known at school at the time.
‘I wouldn’t write it in front of people because I didn’t want them to see it, but now I don’t have to worry about not being able to spell anymore.’
Oliver discovered he had dyslexia as a child, which causes problems with reading, writing and spelling (pictured in his childhood)
His upcoming documentary, airing later this year, explores how schools can celebrate different ways of thinking and redefine success in today’s world
The media personality added that she was able to cope with the condition when she received counseling in her late teens.
Dyslexia is a learning disability that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling. One in ten people in Britain and the US have this lifelong problem.
In addition to struggling with reading, writing and spelling, other signs of dyslexia include confusing the order of letters in words and having difficulty following directions, planning and organizing.
Famous patients include actor Orlando Bloom, businessman Richard Branson, TV musician Jessica Simpson and movie star Tom Cruise.
People with dyslexia often have good skills in other areas, such as problem solving and creative thinking.
Oliver wants to challenge the government to reform the ‘archaic’ education system, which he says is failing to include children with dyslexia.
Discussing the condition on This Morning in 2022, Willoughby said she didn’t see it as a ‘disability’, adding: ‘I think it makes me who I am’
Oliver wants to challenge the government to reform the ‘archaic’ education system, which he says is failing to include children with dyslexia
His upcoming documentary, airing later this year, explores how schools can celebrate different ways of thinking and redefine success in today’s world.
He said, “I just want to look 13-year-old kids in the eye who have trouble reading and tell them, ‘You are NOT worthless.’
Tim Hancock, editor-in-chief at Channel 4, said: ‘There is no more effective campaigner than Jamie, and now he is turning his expertise to an issue close to his heart.
‘I’m pleased that Channel 4 is following him back on the campaign trail.’