about me

In 2004, motivated by the poor state of school lunches in the UK, Jamie embarked on one of his most ambitious ventures to date. He went back to school with the aim of educating and motivating the kids and lunch ladies to enjoy cooking and eating healthy, nutritious lunches rather than processed foods. Jamie launched a national campaign called Feed Me Better (www.feedmebetter.com) and an online petition for better school meals. As a result of the 271,677 signatures on the petition, which Jamie took to 10 Downing Street on March 30th 2005, the British government pledged the equivalent of $450million to improve the standard of school meals, provide training for lunch ladies and equipment for schools. Over seven months of hard work and constant filming culminated in the award-winning series Jamie's School Dinners, shown in the UK on Channel 4. The series prompted a public outcry for change to the school meals system and was awarded Best Factual Program at the UK National TV Awards. Jamie also received a special award for his contribution to television at the National TV Awards.

A follow-up documentary, Jamie's Return To School Dinners aired on Channel 4 in September 2006 and, as a result of Jamie's findings, the British government made further investment in school meals and food education for schoolchildren.

Jamie's major project for 2008, however, was Jamie's Ministry of Food, a Channel 4 TV series which showed how people who couldn't cook could be inspired with just a little encouragement and information. The series, filmed in Rotherham in the north of England, explored how friends, family and workmates could be inspired to pass on recipes and cook using fresh ingredients. Additionally, a Ministry of Food center set up by Jamie in the town has been providing information, cooking lessons and advice to the townsfolk who want to move away from takeaways and ready-meals. After the success of the Ministry of Food center, Rotherham Council announced it would continue to fund it and today its classes are booked many weeks in advance. A second Ministry of Food center opened in Bradford in November 2009 and a third in Leeds in April 2010. Many other UK councils are seriously looking at opening similar centers to try to halt Britain's growing obesity problem.

Early in 2011, Jamie and his family pulled up stakes and moved to California for two months where Jamie filmed the second series of Jamie's Food Revolution for ABC.

jamie oliver awards

2010 - (Fresh One Productions and Ryan Seacrest Productions) Emmy Award for Best Reality Series
2010 - TED Prize ($100,000 and a "wish")
2009 - Observer Food Monthly - Food Personality of the Year
2008 - IACAP cook book award
2008 - O2 X Award
2008 - RSPCA Award for significant contribution to chicken welfare awareness
2008 - South Beach Food & Wine Festival - Global Citizen Award
2007 - Horace Hagedorn Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Garden Industry
2006 - Best Factual Series for Jamie's School Dinners at the BAFTAs
2006 - The Richard Dimbleby Award for outstanding presenter in the factual area at the BAFTAs
2006 - Outstanding Achievement Award at the British Book Awards 2006
2006 - Outstanding Achievement Award in the Observer Food Monthly Awards 2006 for Jamie's School Dinners in March 2006
2006 - Best Documentary Series - General at the Royal Television Society Awards for Jamie's School Dinners
2006 - BT Childline Awards 2006 Hero Award in recognition of services to children
2006 - Channel 4 News' Most Inspiring Political Figure
November 2005 - Awarded Setting the Political Agenda Award at the Political Studies Association.
October 2005 - Special Recognition Award - UK National TV Awards
October 2005 - Best Factual Program (for Jamie's School Dinners) - UK National TV Awards
2005 - Special Recognition Award - UK National TV Awards
2005 - Most Generous Celebrity - Judge's special prize at The Beacon Fellowship Awards
2005 - Outstanding Healthcare Communications - Judge's Award at Communiqué Awards 2005
2005 - Highly Commended (voor Feed Me Better) - New Media Awards
2005 - Best Celebrity Site (jamieoliver.com) - Webby Awards
2005 - British Hospitality Association Award
2005 - Special award for the 'School Dinners' campaign from Local Authority Caterers Association Conference 2005.
2005 - Alwyn Smith Prize at the Faculty of Public Health for the Feed Me Better campaign
June 2003 - Jamie was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in the Queen's Birthday Honours
May 2003 - Jamie won Time Out's Special Award for Outstanding Achievement at the magazine's food awards
May 2003 - Jamie was honored with the Food and Drink Personality of the Year at the GQ/Glenfiddich Food and Drink Awards
May 2003 - Jamie's Kitchen was voted best TV cookery show at the GQ/Glenfiddich Food and Drink Awards
March 2003 - Jamie won the Academy Award of Excellence at the Tio Pepe Carlton London Restaurant Awards
February 2003 - Tatler Best Restaurant Award for Fifteen
2001 - GQ Best Chef Award in the USA
2001 - The Home & Leisure Award for Return of The Naked Chef at the WH Smith Book Awards
2000 - A BAFTA award for the television series of The Naked Chef in the Features category
2000 - GQ Man of the Year Award in the TV Personality category
2000 - a TV Quick Award for Best TV Cook
2000 - Most Stylish Male TV Personality at the Elle Style Awards