Jamie is back and, this time, he’s taking on vegetables. With a new book and Channel 4 television series to accompany it, his aim is to show us how to transform even the most humble of produce into delicious, flavoursome food that will please even the most carnivorous among us. And his timing couldn’t be better, as vegan and vegetarian food is at the forefront of food culture at the moment. “However you look at it,” he says, “whether it’s for your health or environmental reasons, the narrative is plants, plants and plants right now. I actually wrote this book about eight years ago but I waited, which I think was the right thing to do because, in the last eight years, the conversation has grown and in the last two years it’s gone bonkers. But I’m a meat lover who has written a vegetarian book. I was using my dad as the target audience, to convince him you could have a delicious meal that was tasty but didn’t have a lump of meat on it.” And with 2019 marking 20 years since Jamie blasted on our screens as The Naked Chef, we thought this the perfect time to reflect back on his own personal life lessons.
On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you right now?
Oh, bloody hell. A seven? I’ve just been on holiday which helps.
At what point in your life were you closest to a ten?
Twenty years ago when I did the Naked Chef. Those were the simple, beautiful, happy days.
What about zero?
I’ve never been to a zero, but I’ve probably had a few rough “threes” in the past couple of years.
Have you always been comfortable in your own skin?
I’m not a guy that would walk around town with my top off – other than being the Naked Chef I am, believe it or not, quite shy and private. I’m happy in my own skin but I don’t think I’ll ever be completely comfortable in my own skin. And I’m OK with that. That’s what clothes are for.
What’s the most important thing your parents taught you.
To be honest.
And are you still exercising as much as you did in your twenties and thirties?
I think definitely more. In my twenties I wasn’t doing anything. I was just being young. And raving doesn’t really count as going to the gym, does it? I know it’s running on the spot with a hat and gloves and a whistle and a lot of tie-dye, but it’s not exercise is it? You take things for granted at that age.
Are you addicted to anything?
I don’t think I’m addicted to anything, honestly. And I think that’s quite a good thing. Don’t get me wrong, I love lots of things, but addiction is a strong word.
What gives you the most pleasure in life? Is there anything you can’t live without?
That’s a hard one. Genuinely, other than family, I think the happiest I am is being with my food team who are some of my best friends, just cooking and shooting for my books. I know that might sound like a weird thing but I have a beautifully varied job that can be taxing at times and I’m lucky I’m pretty good at it – but I am really, really, really happy doing it. We laugh and we’ve all worked together a long time so we can be nostalgic and a bit naughty, telling stories and laughing and taking pictures. I just love it.
Is there anything you’re afraid of?
I’m not keen on sharks. Or tigers. I like looking at them, but on telly. I don’t understand going on safari in a Land Rover with no sides, though. I’m not doing that. No way.
When you have down time how do you switch off?
I know you’re going to think I’m lying and I promise I’m not, but I switch off by going to a kitchen and cooking a nice meal – no faff, just having a nice glass of wine or a little quality whiskey and putting the tunes on, a nice bit of vinyl, and playing it loud enough so I get told to turn it down. A lot of people hate cooking and have a bad relationship with it, but it’s the opposite for me. I can cook for fun, for adrenaline or for a mental massage. You can take your time and listen to tunes and I really mean that. I do that a lot, certainly three times a week and every weekend.
Do you miss The Naked Chef days?
Yes, of course. It’s called nostalgia and it’s only heightened by the efficiency of Facebook reminding me every few minutes of how I looked ten, 15, 20 years ago and of what I was doing. And it’s not just myself, it’s my relationships. Maybe one of my best investments of my life, other than my kids and my marriage of course, is friendships. I’ve got good friendships that have had time to develop and every laugh has more than one meaning, because you’ve felt it and smelt it and done so much together.
Are you able to talk about your feelings quite easily?
I would say yes. And I wish I was short, sharp and concise but I’m not good at simple answers. I think I’m OK with emotions and I can’t help myself but be honest. My personality and the things I’ve done make me very vested in things, for better or for worse. I wear my heart on my sleeve, which can be complicated at times but you can only be who you are. I’ve met a lot of fellas who can’t vent or be honest and they have layers around them to self-protect but I think we’re learning these days that that isn’t very healthy. I’m OK with it – sometimes being open and emotional can give you a handful too many embarrassing moments, but what can you do?
To make life better for everyone what would you ban?
So if I can’t ban violence or war and have to make it more practical, I would ban politicians from telling lies.
Are you optimistic for Britain in today’s day and age?
Always. Britain is such a special, brilliant place, a fantastic melting pot, it’s unique and has so much to offer.
What do you most like about yourself?
I’m weird. I don’t see things the same way a lot of people I talk to do. I’m definitely a bit strange.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
The fact that I’m a bit weird.
What is your top parenting tip?
If you feel worried, lonely or nervous that you’ve given birth to a complete nutter, a gremlin, don’t worry because that is totally normal. Crack on. You’re all right.
And for a successful marriage?
Don’t hold grudges. Move on. Get on with it.
What would you consider your greatest achievement.
Professionally, it’s got to be Fifteen and School Dinners. I couldn’t have done one without the other. I never would have come up with School Dinners if I hadn’t made myself open to listening to young people who needed a break.
Do you have any regrets?
I regret that I never invested in Impossible Burger.
And what is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Life has taught me you have no choice but to keep going, to dust down and move on. And I think it’s important to be kind.
How would you like to be remembered?
For getting boys back in the kitchen and for not being a bad guy. That would be nice.
And with regards to your new book, would you ever go fully veggie?
No. I’m veggie about four days a week, fully veggie, and that suits me really, really well. I could probably manage it for a month or maybe two but I’d sneak back to a beautiful slow-roasted pork shoulder. I just can’t help myself, but that’s my thing. If you’ve got a nice veggie meal then it’s good for everyone, no matter how much they love meat, but I couldn’t do full veggie I’m afraid.
Veg by Jamie Oliver (£26, Penguin Random House Jamie Oliver Enterprises Ltd) is out now.
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