Jamie Oliver opens up concerning the ‘struggles’ he faces along with his incapacity in a brand new hard-hitting documentary

Jamie Oliver has opened up about his ‘struggles’ with dyslexia in a new hard-hitting Channel 4 documentary.

The world-famous chef, 49, who left school with only two GCSEs before finding fame, will explore the UK’s broken education system.

Throughout the hour-long programme, Jamie will explore dyslexia and its impact on 1.3 million kids in the UK.

This will also be a personal passion project for the TV star, who has lived with the condition since primary school. 

Speaking of the new gig, 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 had somewhere to go, catering school, where I could thrive. 

‘The kitchen saved me.’

According to The Sun, he added: ‘But not everyone is as lucky. 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 aims to challenge the Government to reform the ‘archaic’ education system, which he believes fails to engage children with dyslexia.

His upcoming documentary, set to air later this year, explores how schools can celebrate diverse ways of thinking and redefine success in today’s world.

The TV star added: ‘I just want to look 13-year-old kids, who are struggling with reading, in the eye and say to them, ‘You are NOT worthless.’

Tim Hancock, commissioning editor at Channel 4, said: ‘There’s no more effective campaigner than Jamie, and now he’s turning his expertise to a subject close to his heart. 

‘I’m thrilled Channel 4 is following him back on the campaign trail.’

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects accurate and fluent word reading and spelling.

It can affect individuals of all intelligence levels and can result in poor or inconsistent spelling and writing – along with potential struggles following directions or being organised.

It comes after Jamie took to Instagram to discuss his ‘frustrating’ struggle with dyslexia in a lengthy post in October 2022.

The chef has been battling the learning condition alongside ADHD since he was in primary school – often speaking out about his way of coping.

And talking to his followers, the chef explained that he has ‘come to terms’ with not learning the same way as others – putting his resent towards school behind him. 

Posting a carousel of lengthy text panels, Jamie detailed his battle, beginning: ‘Something i don’t really talk about much is the constant battle i have with words and reading…without question it is a love hate relationship. 

‘In the old days at school it made me very frustrated and resentful about school as an institution and over the years i’ve come to terms with not learning the same way as most people not as a failure but an opportunity.

‘An opportunity to look at things very differently, i’m older enough now to have a little wisdom on my shoulders only gained by the way mainly through failures and learning from them and evolving and staying authentic o the original dream and trying again and again and I realise my grammar here is s**t.

‘I’m also using autocorrect which can get me in a lot of trouble sometimes but that’s my point… if you understand what i’m saying i’ve done my job’

Jamie continued to detail his struggle during school, admitting that getting info on paper was ‘almost impossible’ as he recalled ‘hating words and reading with a passion’.

The chef is known for his cookbooks, having released over 20 books of different styles of cooking and cuisines.

But admitting he has ‘never written a word’ of any of them, the TV personality wrote: ‘Here I am 46 years old, written 26 books apparently one of the most published authors on the planet ? No i’m not showing off i’m in as much shock as you are…but ive never ever physically written a word !!

‘I used to write my books on a dictaphone then when I was eventually able to afford to employ an editor I would then dictate to them and that’s how I work it’s more complicated than that because i’m easily distracted and my working day has to be structured in a way that i’m kept invigorated and not allowed to get bored = fall asleep.’

‘But that’s within our gift to try and manage our time best for us to thrive and find what ever balance we are looking for right ?! when I show people around my office they often say what do all these people do? and I say they are really good at things i’m really bad at! and i’m bad at a lot of things…and this is all true.’

Jamie ended the long post by explaining his reasoning for opening up on the matter, explaining that ‘many of us are not brought up toembrace the currency of failure enough’.

‘I believe that if our relationship around failure is managed properly, it is the key to a much happier, healthier future.If you personally struggle with anything, maybe look at it differently and take a different approach.

‘Everyone struggles, everyone has a story that can be used to propel them forward or pull them back and i believe it’s how you choose to look at it that defines which path you take …you just need to find a way around it, do your thing and problem solve and please dream.’

Jamie has now healed his previously resenful relationship with his school days, concluding: ‘ Iwill sign off by saying I no longer am resentful about school – quite the opposite, I think that our teachers and our schools are our secret weapon!!

‘I think it’s more than time for an education revolution especially in times like this! We need to propagate and take real care of the seedlings ~ of the future and that will fruit all that we dream and crave for our diminishing economy