'Amazing but bonkers': Jamie Oliver shares some of his children are neurodivergent
Jamie Oliver thinks he and wife Jools have become "better" parents after some of their kids were diagnosed as neurodivergent because they can understand they see the world differently.
Jamie Oliver has a "very neurodiverse family".
The 50-year-old chef - who has Poppy, 23, Daisy, 22, Petal, 16, Buddy, 14, and River, eight, with wife Jools, also 50 - has struggled with learning disorder dyslexia for all his life but was only formally diagnosed in January this year, and the last 12 months has also seen some of his kids diagnosed with conditions such as ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
Although the 'Naked Chef' star declined to name which of his kids are neurodiverse, he believes understanding their conditions have helped him and Jools to become "better" parents, and they like to discuss the needs of their brood in bed.
He told The Sunday Times magazine: "[We've] learnt to understand that their behaviour is because they’re seeing things differently.
"Being aware of that allows you to be a better parent."
Speaking about their family life, he added: "[It's] amazing but bonkers. Imagine four neurodiverse people at the dinner table trying to get their point across."
Jamie turned 50 on May 27, and though he found hitting the milestone "a bit s***", he is determined to look after himself so he can continue living life to the full for his long as possible.
Jamie added: "[Turning 50] isn’t great, in fact it’s a bit s***.
"I’m trying desperately hard to be the healthiest version of me, working on the right things at the gym and physiotherapy.
“Hopefully, I’ve got a few more years in me yet...
“I’m still here, I’m still alive. I’d like the fifties to be different. I’d like them to be celebratory. I like the idea that my fifties require a different Jamie.”
To mark his birthday, the TV star is planning “a mini festival, a rave in the vegetable patch” at his home in Essex, East England, where he plans to call in some favours from fellow chefs.
He said: "[I want them to] “feed a bunch of reprobates until the early hours. I haven’t thrown a party for a while, so I’m probably due one.”
And Jamie said his hope for the future is to "get old cooking" and mentor the next generation of chefs.
He said: "To get old cooking, travel less and work with more young chefs. The happiest version of me is when I’m bigging up other people and shining a light on them.”
Meanwhile, Jamie and Jools will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary later this month but the 'Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution' star doesn't believe grand gestures have been necessary in their relationship.
Asked the key to their happy marriage, he said: "Don’t have high expectations. You’ll be let down all the time. Set them correctly and you’ll get nice surprises.
"Don’t hold grudges, hang around and it might work itself out."
