Netflix’s Chef’s Table: Legends

Jamie Oliver’s legacy is more than TV fame — it’s a full-on food revolution

After more than two decades under the public microscope, Jamie Oliver isn’t just leaning into the spotlight — he’s using it to shine on something bigger than himself. The latest season of Netflix’s Chef’s Table: Legends — premiering April 28 — profiles Oliver alongside culinary icons like Thomas Keller, José Andrés, and Alice Waters. But while Keller’s episode glorifies fine dining with a delicate touch of leaf-plucking elegance, Oliver’s profile cuts straight to the core of his mission: empowering kids to cook, eat healthy, and love food. It’s a role Oliver has embodied since his early days as The Naked Chef. Now, with a 26-year career and 35 cookbooks under his belt, he’s not just reflecting on his journey — he’s leveling up. His new 10 Cooking Skills for Life program, launching in the U.S. this week, isn’t a brand extension. It’s a full-scale assault on culinary illiteracy, aiming to teach one million students worldwide how to turn ingredients into nourishment, not just snacks.

Behind the fame: Jamie Oliver reveals the real balancing act of fatherhood

Even heroes have their civilian struggles. For Oliver, it’s navigating fatherhood under the unblinking gaze of fame. In a candid chat with PEOPLE, the chef opened up about how “tricky” life can be for his five kids — Poppy and Daisy (23), Petal (16), Buddy (14), and River (8) — growing up as the sons and daughters of a TV legend. “Depending on the kid and their personality, some of them are super embarrassed of me,” Oliver admitted with a laugh. The cringe-worthy school pickups and the desperate pleas to not say anything in public — it’s a dynamic every celebrity parent knows all too well. But Oliver’s honesty doesn’t dwell in discomfort; it evolves. His eldest kids have “got it down,” he says, and the family has weathered the awkward teenage storms. What’s striking is how Oliver weaves this personal insight into his larger narrative. He doesn’t complain. He just acknowledges the *balance* — between being a public figure and a private dad, between fighting for a cause and showing up at home. And with Jools, his wife of 25 years, by his side, he’s got an anchor in the chaos.

Cooking confidence: Jamie’s children — and the world’s youth — are learning to wield knives, not just forks

If there’s one superpower Jamie Oliver has passed down to his kids, it’s the confidence to cook. “I've taught all of my kids how to cook: planting things, growing things, picking things, coming to the market,” he said. It’s a full-circle food education — from soil to stove — and it’s as much about independence as it is about nutrition. Sure, there’s a phase where adolescents default to pizza and burgers. Oliver calls it “the generic,” but he’s optimistic they always come back. And that’s the pattern he’s seen — not just in his family, but in classrooms across the globe. With his Ministry of Food’s 10 Skills platform, Oliver isn’t just teaching recipes; he’s planting seeds. Free lesson plans, videos, competitions — all designed to make cooking *cool* and *necessary*, not optional or elitist. The program has already reached 234,000 kids in the U.K., Australia, and Canada. Now, it’s aiming for the U.S. — and eventually, the world. “The next generation love, enthusiasm,” Oliver said. “10 Skills just feels like part of the same narrative.” It’s a narrative about empowerment, health, and breaking the cycle of junk food dependency.

Chef’s Table: Legends doesn’t just glorify chefs — it reveals their missions, failures, and passions

There’s a risk in shows like *Chef’s Table* — that they become too glossy, too reverential. That they turn chefs into culinary mythologies without scratching beneath the surface. But the *Legends* season strikes the right balance. It’s not about the dishes (though the food porn is undeniable); it’s about the lives behind the aprons. Oliver’s episode is no exception. It celebrates his innovations, but never shies away from the struggles. The pushback he’s faced. The campaigns that took more from him than he realized. It’s a portrait of a man who’s never stopped fighting — whether for cleaner school lunches or for kids who’ve never held a knife. Paired with the likes of Keller, who sought to democratize fine dining, and Andrés, who feeds disaster zones, Oliver stands out not for flash, but for relentless grit. His weapon? Education.

After 25 years of marriage, Jamie Oliver’s romance with Jools remains his greatest unsung victory

Amid the sauces and slogans, there’s Jools. Jamie’s partner in life and, as he puts it, the real MVP of his parenting story. She gives him the freedom to chase his missions, even when they pull him away from family time. She holds the fort. And as Jamie plans a veggie-filled anniversary dinner in Amsterdam — “in classic Oliver style” — you get the sense this relationship is his quiet anchor. No culinary crusader’s story is complete without a solid sidekick. Jools is his.

Jamie Oliver’s story is proof that real legends serve more than just dinner — they serve change

Jamie Oliver may have started as a chef with a cleaver and a smile, but he’s evolved into something far more impactful: a cultural change agent. His episode on *Chef’s Table: Legends* doesn’t just honor his past; it fuels his future. With five kids, a global education program, and two decades of fame behind him, Oliver isn’t resting on his laurels. He’s still in the kitchen. Still fighting. Still teaching. And that, in the world of culinary superheroes, makes him nothing short of legendary.