I TURNED on the radio on Thursday morning to hear adults slating a 13-year-old. Cruel. But true.
That teenager is Buddy Oliver, the son of celebrity chef Jamie who has caused outrage to some by releasing his first cookery book called Let’s Cook aimed at encouraging children into the kitchen. What a pukka idea. The fourth of Jamie and Jools’ five kids, Buddy was born to cook .
He has certainly seen more of it than your average kid. His little videos on social media are a joy to watch and he already has his own online cookery show . Jamie has said that little Buddy “doesn’t want to be a chef or a TV presenter .
. . but the idea of trying to get other kids to cook is a really positive thing.
” Yes it is. But he also says Buddy will not be a nepo baby . Which is utterly ridiculous because — like it or lump it, Jamie — that is exactly what he is.
Many will say Buddy only got his break because of his well-connected Dad. And, understandably, some parents are outraged by that. It is natural for kids to want to follow in their parents’ footsteps into an industry they have become so familiar with while growing up but it is also galling for the thousands with little Marcos and Delias at home who wouldn’t even get a response if they emailed a publishing company.
Nepo babies are in all walks of life. We have all seen kids who are often less qualified using family connections to get fancy jobs in posh offices while others get turned away for work experience. But th.