Jamie Oliver's son Buddy, 13, gets cooking TV show but he's 'no nepo baby'
Jamie Oliver's son Buddy is launching his own TV chef career with CBBC show Cooking Buddies.
A lot of celebrity offspring are inspired by their parents to forge careers in the limelight. Tilly Ramsay followed her dad Gordon Ramsay's footsteps with her own TV show too only recently. Brooklyn Beckham has had an interesting career journey in the showbiz world, following after footballer David Beckham and singer-turn-designer Victoria.
While celebrity children are often dubbed "nepo babies" for choosing to embark on a career in the limelight, TV chef Oliver has insisted his son would "earn his trade".
Now keen to make his own mark on the showbiz world, aspiring cook Buddy Oliver has landed his first ever cooking television show called Cooking Buddies on CBBC. It was an idea sparked from his own YouTube channel with the same name which already has the attention of 134,000 followers.
His YouTube is described as a "place where we can grow and build the amazing Cooking Buddies Club" and "Buddy will be here with lots of lovely recipes as will lots of other Cooking Buddies from around the world". Cooking everything from fro-yo to freshly baked dough and how to fillet a fish, Buddy has begun to show off his talents.
Of course British cooking icon Oliver – and even other members of their family – will make cameo appearances in Cooking Buddies. Buddy is the second youngest child in the family – his siblings are Poppy, Daisy Boo, Petal and River – but he already has plans to kick start his career as early as possible. Sometimes his siblings have been seen helping him in the kitchen on his social media platforms.
Cooking Buddies will be a 10-part series where Buddy will teach the children the art of cooking simple food for a fancy occasion. In return, the guests will teach the budding TV chef how to master their favourite skill whether that's karate or boxing or salsa.
It's impressive as Oliver had made a name for himself in the TV world at the age of 24 in 1999 when he starred on the first series of The Naked Chef. Looking back on his own success, Oliver said he would choose to live a normal life if he had his time again.
He told BBC presenter Kirsty Young for BBC Radio 4's Young Again podcast last year: "I would be aware that anonymity is our most valuable gift that we will never give any currency to, and to have just enough and to trot on and to be the best you can at your thing. And just like, be part of a community and have a mutuality and an equality."
Jamie Oliver's son gets TV show
At 13, Buddy now has embarked at the very beginning of his own TV career.
Ed Galton, CEO of distributor Cake, said of the show: "We know how important cooking is in the mainstream and to kids and families around the world and having Buddy introduce cooking to a global audience is a great way to get children interested in healthy food and encourage them to learn different skills in a unique and entertaining way."
Zoë Collins, managing director, Jamie Oliver Group, said: "Buddy Oliver has been sharing his passion for cooking for years, through his digital videos and also when he comes in to cook at the Jamie Oliver HQ."
She added: "It’s this passion for and knowledge about food that we really wanted to capture in this series, and, of course, there will be some surprise appearances from the rest of the Oliver family... The show will be packed full of delicious, nutritious and easy recipes that children will be able to cook at home, now and for life, supporting our mission to ensure that every child learns the basics of cooking."
Not a nepo baby
Last year, celebrity chef Oliver said his son would not live off his name. "The only way to do it, is to do it properly," said The Naked Chef star. "The technical and practical side of cooking is one thing, but the really interesting and emotional thing about cooking is serving people, immersing yourself with food growers and farmers – you can’t fake that."
He told MailOnline: "When I ran the restaurant Fifteen, where most of our young people were unemployed, from prison or troubled backgrounds. We put these kids in front of amazing farmers and artisans, fishermen and producers, that’s what changes you and I’d definitely do that with Buddy, if he wanted to go down that route. He would earn his trade for sure."
The celebrity chef also said his son's skills were down to sheer practice and hard work. Oliver has celebrated his son's cooking skills too and praised him for being a great help in the kitchen. Plus, he pointed out what Buddy is particularly good at when it comes to preparing food.
Previously he told Hello! magazine: "Buddy is such an asset in the kitchen and he’s been getting amongst it since he was really little. His knife skills are getting really good now. He's always happy to help out, and to be honest, all the kids have had their moments."
Of course cooking is big in Oliver's household and the other children do get involved. He elaborated: "Poppy and Daisy are out doing their own thing a lot now but when they were younger they'd always be picking herbs and helping with jobs here and there – Petal's the same. And River, well, if there's music playing and he can dance while he helps you, he's there!"
