“Jools Has Been Incredible”

Celeb chef Jamie says his wife has been a tower of strength

- Vicki Power

Celebrities’ marriages are often short-lived and fraught with drama, but that can’t be said of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. He’s been with childhood sweetheart Jools since he was 18 – they’ve produced five children and are still going strong after nearly 18 years of marriage.

Jamie says their marriage has got even stronger during recent turbulent times in his business empire. Despite having written 2017’s best-selling cookery book, Five Easy Ingredients – one copy is sold every 16 seconds – Jamie has had trouble with his Jamie’s Italian restaurant chain being forced to close 12 of 37 restaurants and work flat out to save the others.

Throughout it all, says Jamie, Jools has been a pillar of strength, despite having her hands full with their brood – Daisy, 16, Poppy, 15, Petal, nine, Buddy, eight and River, nearly two. Jools looks after them while Jamie works long hours, even evenings and weekends.