Articles like this are what makes Vittles such a good subscription. A brilliant read. And really terrible looking back at some of the stuff Jamie Oliver got away with saying, as well as how he clearly abandoned Rotherham as soon as the cameras stopped rolling.
I wrote my phd thesis on modern British food writing and this was the most problematic period of Oliver’s career - judging women ( not men - never men) for the way they fed their families - refusing to see the bigger picture - focused on saving people whilst refusing to see the bigger picture . It really made me angry and I had to rein it in - but whereas I still believe he came from a good place the damage he did - the misogyny of his response has always really bothered me .
I grew up in Rochdale, a very equivalent place to Rotherham, at exactly this time.
My school had the same imposition of Jamie Oliver's rules, but little of the replacement foods - just a significant reduction in options. One of them was simply pasta and gravy, which apparently ticked Jamie's boxes.
You got a thriving black market in dinner tickets, where you could buy a school dinner off a kid with a free meals voucher for as little as 50p, because they wouldn't eat the food at all otherwise.
Then you got kids like me got £2 a day for food - enough for a bacon butty before school and two pies for a quid afterwards - and years of disordered eating based on no food between 8am and 4pm. Reckon it took a decade to knock that one back into kilter.
Excellent reporting and commentary, particularly on how media portrayal stains a place and what happens if initiatives like the Ministry of Food don't empower local communities over the long term. Jamie is always selling something. I find that very telling.
My suspicion is that the “big old scrubber” incident between Oliver and Critchlow was staged, as so many of the supposedly spontaneous “live” segments of these TV shows are. The point of staging it (if that is what happened) would have been to set up a purported friction which was then transformed into an amicable partnership. It’s how TV often works.
I have a friend who worked all her life in television although in another county, she said nothing ever happens by chance on tv, it’s all been arranged.
I have to admit I never did understand what the attraction was with the lisping tub of lard (Oliver...as in Oliver Cromwell, I presume?). I did love the Two Fat Ladies though. They really knew how to cook, and whilst wearing nail varnish and rings. (Snigger).
So glad to have read this thoroughly researched and well-written examination of Jamie's effect on Rotherham! I live in Sheffield and am confident that we have some of the best food in the UK. S Yorkshire knows how to eat. Jamie was always wrong
Such an amazing piece to talk about food differences within economic states. A very similar thing is happening within the US right now, where many small towns are criticized for only carrying fast food joints / small businesses, but that is the only economic help they have been given through the years.
The article was a good read - even if I disagree with some of the sentiments. The personal comments, however, belong on Facebook/Instagram, not Substack. Do better or go back to aforementioned social media platforms.
If Jamie Oliver has no enemies, I am dead. He is the embodiment of smug, middle-class condescension.
This is a great piece that sensitively explores the relationship between deprivation and diet. Nice to hear from the people who were publicly shamed.
Articles like this are what makes Vittles such a good subscription. A brilliant read. And really terrible looking back at some of the stuff Jamie Oliver got away with saying, as well as how he clearly abandoned Rotherham as soon as the cameras stopped rolling.
I wrote my phd thesis on modern British food writing and this was the most problematic period of Oliver’s career - judging women ( not men - never men) for the way they fed their families - refusing to see the bigger picture - focused on saving people whilst refusing to see the bigger picture . It really made me angry and I had to rein it in - but whereas I still believe he came from a good place the damage he did - the misogyny of his response has always really bothered me .
Would love to read your PhD if it's available!
J
I can certainly arrange to get a copy to you!
Thank you! Send me a message at vittleslondon@gmail.com
I grew up in Rochdale, a very equivalent place to Rotherham, at exactly this time.
My school had the same imposition of Jamie Oliver's rules, but little of the replacement foods - just a significant reduction in options. One of them was simply pasta and gravy, which apparently ticked Jamie's boxes.
You got a thriving black market in dinner tickets, where you could buy a school dinner off a kid with a free meals voucher for as little as 50p, because they wouldn't eat the food at all otherwise.
Then you got kids like me got £2 a day for food - enough for a bacon butty before school and two pies for a quid afterwards - and years of disordered eating based on no food between 8am and 4pm. Reckon it took a decade to knock that one back into kilter.
Needless to say, I hate Jamie Oliver.
Excellent reporting and commentary, particularly on how media portrayal stains a place and what happens if initiatives like the Ministry of Food don't empower local communities over the long term. Jamie is always selling something. I find that very telling.
I never was that keen on Jamie Oliver. Anyone who had teeth missing at a relatively young age, must have had a crap diet early on.
My suspicion is that the “big old scrubber” incident between Oliver and Critchlow was staged, as so many of the supposedly spontaneous “live” segments of these TV shows are. The point of staging it (if that is what happened) would have been to set up a purported friction which was then transformed into an amicable partnership. It’s how TV often works.
I have a friend who worked all her life in television although in another county, she said nothing ever happens by chance on tv, it’s all been arranged.
The truth will out! Fantastic exposure of the naked acquisitive chef.
I have to admit I never did understand what the attraction was with the lisping tub of lard (Oliver...as in Oliver Cromwell, I presume?). I did love the Two Fat Ladies though. They really knew how to cook, and whilst wearing nail varnish and rings. (Snigger).
A really excellent look-back and recontextualization, thank you.
Another view here … it’s a complex picture but the battle to nourish our children well continues….
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2006/jun/25/schools.uk?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
So glad to have read this thoroughly researched and well-written examination of Jamie's effect on Rotherham! I live in Sheffield and am confident that we have some of the best food in the UK. S Yorkshire knows how to eat. Jamie was always wrong
Rotherham is home to 90% pewerk and the viral sensation corner kitchen.
I had no idea about this backstory. Thanks for the history.
Such an amazing piece to talk about food differences within economic states. A very similar thing is happening within the US right now, where many small towns are criticized for only carrying fast food joints / small businesses, but that is the only economic help they have been given through the years.
Good article, interesting look behind the headlines .
The article was a good read - even if I disagree with some of the sentiments. The personal comments, however, belong on Facebook/Instagram, not Substack. Do better or go back to aforementioned social media platforms.