Jamie Oliver has said his first cookbook was made out of recipes written on the ‘back of fag packs and beer mats’ left in a bin bag.
The TV chef and restaurateur, 46, said if he ‘was a horse in a race, you would never have put a bet on me’, as he spoke to Radio Times ahead of the launch of his new show next week.
Jamie will oversee a group of aspiring cookbook authors for The Great Cookbook Challenge with Jamie Oliver as they try to win a book deal.
Making the best of things: Jamie Oliver, 46, has said his first cookbook was made out of recipes written on the ‘back of fag packs and beer mats’ left in a bin bag
The Channel 4 show has caused him to look back on his own beginnings, before his first cookbook was released.
He told Radio Times: ‘I was a special needs kid from school and I never thought I’d write a book.’
The star’s breakthrough came with the BBC series, The Naked Chef, in 1999, but he was told: ‘Oh, it’s a shame. Normally, we do a cookbook with a series.’
Unlikely star? The TV chef said if he ‘was a horse in a race, you would never have put a bet on me’, as he spoke to Radio Times ahead of the launch of his new show next week
He added: ‘I said, “I’ve got one. I’ve written down all my recipes for the last five years and they’re in a bin liner.”‘
Jamie said there were ‘hundreds’ of recipes in the bag written ‘on the back of fag packs, beer mats and order checks’.
After signing the book deal, he said he set about learning about the publishing industry – even living in the Penguin offices and personally dressing bookshop windows to promote his cookbooks.
Jamie was interviewed for the 29 January – 4 February edition of the Radio Times
Jamie went on to become a household name and has campaigned for better food standards in schools and his Food Revolution campaign fights for children’s rights to nutritious foods, with the aim of cutting child obesity in half by 2030.
Despite his successes, he still thanks his own inspirations, including Marco Pierre White – with whom he said he does not get on – and Delia Smith.
Ahead of the series’ launch, Jamie said the first cookbook he was given was written by Delia.
He insisted she knew there was ‘logic between simplicity, accessibility and aspiration’.
Adding that the right balance is needed.
The Great Cookbook Challenge will air on Channel 4 on Monday, January 31.
Hitting TV screens: The Great Cookbook Challenge will air on Channel 4 on Monday, January 31
