Jamie Oliver reveals his plans to retire

Jamie Oliver has opened up for his plans to retire in his 50s – once he’s cut the scale of the UK’s child obesity crisis in half. 

Speaking to Balance magazine the celebrity chef and campaigner, 42, revealed his plans to ‘go all out for the next 12 years to get things where they should be’. 

‘And then I will happily f****** retire. I could throw the towel in now and see my kids growing up and that would be lovely,’ he said. 

The father-of-five – who has secured the number one spot on Balance’s Wellness 100 List – shares Poppy, 15, Daisy, 14, Petal, eight, Buddy, seven, and 20-month-old River with his wife of almost two decades, Jools Oliver.

But before he can get to enjoy more family time, he’s aiming to get junk food ads off TV and stop energy drinks being sold to children, even though he admits that some of his past endeavours have not endeared him to everyone.  

He explained: ‘I still get “Where’s my Turkey Twizzlers?”. Someone thinks I took something away from them. I didn’t. 

Celebrity chef and campaigner Jamie Oliver, 42, has revealed his plans to ‘go all out’ on his campaigning against childhood obesity for the next 12 years before retiring 

The father-of-five said he'd happily retire now so he can see his children grow up. Clockwise from left: Daisy, Poppy, Petal, River and Buddy with their parents Jools and Jamie 

The father-of-five said he’d happily retire now so he can see his children grow up. Clockwise from left: Daisy, Poppy, Petal, River and Buddy with their parents Jools and Jamie 

We put standards in and we put more meat in your sausage, gave you a better one.’

And he denies the idea that he ever tells people how they should and shouldn’t be eating.  

‘It’s perception to say I’m middle class and telling people what to do,’ he explained.

‘To be honest I haven’t spent 20 years doing that; I’ve spent 20 years getting passionate about things I think are wrong. 

The TV star has topped Balance magazine's Wellness 100 list, thanks to his tireless campaigning 

The TV star has topped Balance magazine’s Wellness 100 list, thanks to his tireless campaigning 

And I have some solutions. But generally unless I’ve f***** up, I don’t tell anyone what to do.’

The TV star first waged war on Turkey Twizzlers in 2005 when his healthy school dinners campaign turned them into the iconic item of what not to feed children.

Who is on Balance’s Wellness 100 list? 

No. 5: Joe Wicks, fitness influencer 

No. 7: Elon Musk, inventor

No. 96: Emma Gonzalez, activist

No 20. Kayla Itnes, fitness influencer

No. 13: Andy Puddicombe, mindfulness 

No. 56: David Attenborough, environmentalist 

No. 52: Davina McCall, fitness/media 

No, 71: Anthony Joshua, sports

No. 9: Arianna Huffington, media  

He revealed the snack contained just 34 per cent turkey, plus water, pork fat, rusk, wheat starch, three sweeteners, hydrogenated vegetable oil, colourings and flavourings.

Following Oliver’s campaign, two of the big three school catering companies dropped Twizzlers from their menus.

Bernard Matthews then discontinued the product completely and there are not plans to reinstate it. 

And Oliver has now secured the number one spot on Balance’s Wellness 100 list, which pays tribute to people who have helped to make the world ‘a better, brighter and more mindful place’.

‘Jamie’s many healthy eating campaigns have resulted in real change and his sheer longevity and ceaseless passion to end childhood obesity make him a true hero,’ Sophie Scott, Balance’s Founding Editor and wellbeing expert said.

Despite his successful health eating campaigns, it’s been a tough time for the celebrity chef of late, following reports his Italian restaurant empire has racked up eye-watering debts of £71.5 million – with staff being owed £2.2 million.

The TV star reportedly begged landlords to cut rents in his remaining restaurants in a move aimed to stop the chain from collapsing entirely after reported losses of £10 million last year.

For the full interview with Jamie Oliver and the full Wellness 100 List, pick up a copy of Balance’s second anniversary issue this Monday 9 April  

The celebrity chef notoriously campaigned against Turkey Twizzlers in 2005, leading to the product being discontinued 

The celebrity chef notoriously campaigned against Turkey Twizzlers in 2005, leading to the product being discontinued 



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