TV chef Jamie Oliver has been warned to stay away from Rotherham in Yorkshire, after supposedly portraying a town as full of “dumbos” and “numpties”.
His Ministry of Food programme which premiered on Channel 4 last week highlighted parents who had never cooked a meal for their children and used the vegetable drawers in their fridges to store chocolates and sweets.
It also included people who ate takeaways nearly every night and mothers who had no idea how to tell when water was boiling.
For TEN, the bad press is just the sort of “boost” the show needs as it premieres in Australia tonight.
Oliver went back to Rotherham after his 2005 campaign to improve school meals, which featured mother Julie Critchlow and friends posting junk food through school railings.
Former chef Alan Dale, (no not that one), said: “My message to Jamie is to stay away from Rotherham. Feelings are running high because he has made us look like complete idiots.”
Joanne Sherwood, 37, said: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The town was made to look like it was populated by numpties and everyone has a bad diet.” Emma White, 38, who works in the catering industry, and her husband, Paul, refused to appear because they suspected people would be ridiculed. “We backed out because we feared that something like this might happen,” she said. “After watching the first programme I am glad we did. I am appalled by what I saw.”
The Ministry of Food promotes Oliver’s idea of “pyramid cooking”, teaching eight people to cook so that they can pass on skills to friends.
Oliver’s spokesman, Peter Berry, promised future episodes would redress the balance. “In later programmes there are many people who can cook,” he said. “There are also some lovely parts of the town and surrounding countryside shown.”
The series premieres 7:30pm tonight on TEN.
Source: Daily Express
Love the programme and the basic hints and tips, even love the people Jamie is trying to teach.
Hate, hate hate, Jamies language. He is the only one swearing at all, never mind it has to be the’F’ word. Is he trying to fit into a community of hard working down to earth miners. Jamie, you won’t do it this way.
They can’t afford proper food, yet they can afford cigarettes and beer.
I think they’re angry and being REVEALED to be cretins.
And the 3 or so who aren’t then take it upon themselves to be outraged on everyone’s behalf.
I wouldn’t have been at all surprised if it wasn’t the other Alan Dale… that man pops up just about anywhere…
Alan Dale: No I don’t
Pretty much what I expected to see from this show. As well as Jamie cruising around in his Range Rover trying to relate to lower- middle-class people.
I’ve always called it two and a half jokes….
Stewie – Glad I’m not the only one who calls it 2 1/2 Braincells…
I’m usually pretty good with understanding British accents, but it’s hard to understand what they’re saying in this one. Very strong Northern accents indeed.
Kenny’s World is back 8pm next Tue. Bondi is out….
Bring back Bondi Rescue and Kenny’s World, don’t put on another cook show! At least put Jamie Oliver in another time slot!!
I hope this does well tonight.
Bring back some viewers for cooking themed shows, after the bad results on Channel 9 recently for Kitchen Nightmares.
Anything to take people away from Charlie Sheen and the two and a half braincells.
It’s been fairly heavily promoted. Looking forward to it.
I don’t think many people actually know this show is on tonight. My sunday tv guide says bondi and kenny for the timeslot.