HE looks like any other 12-year-old boy, with a cheeky grin and a boisterous family to keep him on his toes. But unlike a lot of tweens stuck in front of Fortnite and obsessing about the Euros, Buddy Oliver has 133,000 subscribers to his YouTube show Cooking Buddies, where he teaches youngsters how to rustle up simple dishes. And he also happens to have a very famous father, TV chef Jamie.
Buddy, who lives in Essex with his family, said: “Cooking is one of my all-time favourite things to do. It’s really fun and a great skill to learn. Once you know the basics you can give most recipes a try, or even have a go at making your own.
“It doesn’t always go to plan but that doesn’t matter. I like to cook for my brother and sisters, but I also cook for my friends.” Dad Jamie, 49, said: “There’s something so powerful about being able to cook.
You could even call it a superpower. “The key to learning is being curious and having the confidence to give it a go.” Buddy is about to release his first recipe book, aimed at young people and beginner cooks and featuring more than 60 recipes.
But how easy are the recipes for an average Cooking Buddies fan to make? I asked my daughter Lexi, left, who is ten, to try four at home in Bude, Cornwall, then give her verdict with marks out of five. You need: Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 180C, and line a muffin tin with 12 paper cases.
2. Grate the cheddar or Parmesan and place in a mixing bowl. Finely chop half the spinach and rou.