Jamie and his children

The TV chef and wife Jools share five kids

Jamie Oliver has offered a rare insight into his family life, revealing his children have been handed a trio of health diagnoses.

The TV chef, 50, has been a staple on screens for years. However, away from the cooking shows, Jamie is loved-up with wife Jools, 50.

The couple are parents to Poppy, 23, Daisy, 22, Petal, 16, Buddy, 14, and River, eight. And recently, Jamie revealed some “hard” family news.

Jamie Oliver and his wife and children
The TV chef is dad to five kids, who he shares with beloved wife Jools (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Jamie Oliver reveals children’s health diagnoses

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Jamie opened up about his family.

The presenter shared that his oldest daughters, Poppy, 23, and Daisy, 22, have flown the nest and moved out. This is something he has found “hard, but sort of exciting and beautiful”.

Jamie’s other three children still live at home though. He also candidly revealed that there have been diagnoses of dyslexia, ADHD and ASD (autism spectrum disorder) in the past year within the family.

Jamie Oliver and his wife and children
Jamie’s eldest kids have now moved out of the family home (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Jamie on his ‘very neurodiverse family’

Jamie is also dyslexic. Despite leaving school with just two GCSEs, he found his calling in the kitchen, which he credits with saving him.

Talking to the publication, Jamie didn’t go into detail, but described his clan as a “very neurodiverse family”.

Jamie then shared that he and Jools talk about their children in bed every night and have “learnt to understand that their behaviour is because they’re seeing things differently”.

Being aware of that allows you to be a better parent.

He added: “Being aware of that allows you to be a better parent.”

According to Jamie, he describes family life as being “amazing but bonkers. Imagine four neurodiverse people at the dinner table trying to get their point across”.

Jamie on his dyslexia battle

Jamie previously opened up about living with dyslexia ahead of a Channel 4 documentary that’s set to air later this year.

Reflecting on his struggles in school, Jamie said: “It’s no secret I struggled at school – but I was one of the lucky ones. I knew I wanted to be a chef, so I had somewhere to go, catering school, where I could thrive. The kitchen saved me.”

However, he is aware that many children with dyslexia don’t have the same luck.

“What happens to those who don’t know where to go? We can’t leave kids’ futures up to luck. We need the education system to update, so everyone has the best possible chance in life.” Jamie added.

Jamie’s upcoming documentary will explore how schools can celebrate neurodiverse ways of thinking. It airs on Channel 4 on June 9.