JAMIE Oliver is one of the most-loved celebrity chefs in Britain, alongside his longtime pal Gordon Ramsay and Gino D'Acampo.
His chain of eateries went under as the administrators are brought in.
Why did Jamie Oliver's restaurant chain collapse?
On May 21, 2019, it was revealed that Jamie's restaurant empire has called in administrators, putting more than 1,300 jobs at risk.
The celebrity chef's firm Jamie's Italian Limited – which includes 23 Jamie's Italian restaurants and 15 Barbecoa outlets – has appointed KPMG as administrators.
He opened his first Jamie's Italian in 2008 and saw rapid expansion across the UK in the early 2010s.
But in 2018, it was revealed that the Essex-born star's firm owed staff £2.2m and was in £71.5million of debt.
Jamie's Italian shut 12 of its 37 sites as part of a Company Voluntary Agreement and steakhouse chain Barbecoa went into a pre-pack administration.
Bosses had been hunting for fresh investment into the brand but were unable to attract the money needed to keep administrators at bay.
What has Jamie said about his restaurants collapsing?
In an official statement, according to BBC, the TV chef revealed he was saddened with what's happened, adding that he's super proud of his team and staff members for what they were able to achieve over the years.
He said: "I would also like to thank all the customers who have enjoyed and supported us over the last decade, it's been a real pleasure serving you.
"We launched Jamie's Italian in 2008 with the intention of positively disrupting mid-market dining in the UK High Street, with great value and much higher quality ingredients, best-in-class animal welfare standards and an amazing team who shared my passion for great food and service. And we did exactly that".
Who is Jamie Oliver?
Jamie Oliver, 45, is a celebrity chef and restaurateur from Clavering, Essex.
He left school at 16 to go and study at Westminster Catering College and later worked at the River Cafe in London.
In 1997 he featured in a documentary about the restaurant and as a result was given his own show The Naked Chef which ran for three series.
Jamie's profile grew and he launched his own recipe magazine, cooked at 10 Downing Street and became the face of Sainsbury's.
His innovative show Jamie's Kitchen was launched in 2002 and followed 15 disadvantaged youngsters as Jamie attempted to train them as chefs for his restaurant Fifteen.
In 2003 Jamie was awarded an MBE for his services to the hospitality industry.
In December 2018 he was slammed for agreeing to a £5million business deal with oil giant Shell after campaigning on climate change.
How many children does Jamie Oliver have and when did he marry Jools?
Jamie married his long-term love and ex-model Juliette "Jools" Norton in July 2000.
The couple have five children together and are known for the imaginative names they give their babies.
They are Poppy Honey Rosie, 18, Daisy Boo Pamela, 17, Petal Blossom Rainbow, 11, Buddy Bear Maurice, 10 and four-year-old River Rocket.
When the latest addition to their brood – River Rocket – was born in August 2016 the celebrity chef couldn't resist a food-themed shout-out:
“8lbs ( that’s 16 packs of butter for you bakers out there) anyway we’re all hitting the hay it’s been a long day big love… bless a little baby boy Woop Woop !!!!”
The pair are planning to renew their vows after their 20th year anniversary.
What TV shows has Jamie Oliver been on?
Jamie has appeared in a staggering number of shows both on his own and with friends as co-stars;
- The Naked Chef
- Pukka Tukka
- Oliver's Twist
- Jamie's Kitchen
- Jamie's School Dinners
- Jamie's Great Italian Escape
- Jamie's Kitchen Australia
- Jamie's Chef
- Jamie At Home
- Jamie's Fowl Dinners
- Jamie's Ministry of Food
- Jamie Saves Our Bacon
- Jamie's American Road Trip
- Jamie's Family Christmas
- Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
- Jamie Does…
- Jamie's 30-Minute Meals
- Jamie's Dream School
- Jamie's Fish Supper
- Jamie Cooks Summer
- Jamie's Great Britain
- Jamie's 15-Minute Meals
- Jamie & Jimmy's Food Fight Club
- Dream School USA
- Jamie's Money Saving Meals
- Jamie & Jimmy's Friday Night Feast
- Jamie's Comfort Food
- Jamie Cooks Italy
- Jamie’s Quick & Easy Food
- Jamie: Keep Cooking and Carry On
- Jamie: Keep Cooking Family Favourites
What's Jamie Oliver's childhood obesity campaign?
Jamie has been a long-term campaigner against childhood obesity.
In 2005 he introduced healthy low budget meals to schools on the Channel 4 documentary Jamie's School Dinners.
The result was that he got turkey twizzlers banned and launched the nationwide Feed Me Better campaign.
In 2018 he attended a hearing in the House of Commons with fellow chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
He urged MPs to introduce a tax on sugary milkshakes as well as putting a stop to cartoon characters promoting junk food.
He said: “I think Tony the Tiger feels pretty sorry for peddling unhealthy breakfasts for a long time. But I don’t want to make him redundant. I want to promote him.
“If he wants to promote porridge, I’m all in."
What is Jamie Oliver's net worth?
Jamie Oliver's net worth is reportedly over £240million.
He moved out of his Hampstead Heath home and into a 70-acre estate in his native Essex.
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