Jamie Oliver says he's baffled by the fact young people don't want to cook up a storm in the kitchen.
The TV chef, 47, muses how he believes "British kids and young people don't want to work in kitchens" these days while reflecting on his own childhood helping his parents out in their Essex pub.
Jamie explains how there's a "real happiness to be had" in the kitchen as he recalls how he only became a culinary master due to repetition and spending many a hour by a stove as a young lad.
The dad-of-five claims he was only good at cooking as a child due to the fact he "just did it again and again", as he ponders why younger generations don't seem to be following in his footsteps.
Jamie's comments follow reports earlier this year from the hospitality industry, which claimed some UK kitchens are facing lengthy waits to find new chefs for their kitchens.
Research from fine-dining water brand S.Pellegrino shared in April showed how restaurant bosses are having to wait an average of five months to recruit and onboard chefs with the right skill set.
Despite the research finding that 55% of chef employers believe there is a wealth of gastronomy talent in the UK today, 67% said that the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has put young people off from starting a career in the industry, according to HR News.
Jamie - who shares Poppy, 20, Daisy, 19, Petal, 13, Buddy, 12, and River, six with wife Jools - has now weighed in on the crisis facing the British hospitality industry.
"I was good at cooking – not because I was born to do it or a genius but because I just did it again and again," the veteran cookbook author says.
"I had a terrible time academically at school but I loved working at the weekend – learning to graft, learning to be tired, learning to earn a pound."
In his interview with the Radio Times, Jamie adds: "I was blessed to work with seven chefs on a shift who all taught me how to do things and would whup me if I didn’t do them right.
"It baffles me why British kids and people don’t want to work in kitchens. There’s a real happiness to be had."
The chef also reflected on his childhood helping run his parents run their Essex pub over festive periods - recalling how it was "an honour" to be able to pitch in and assist in the commercial kitchen.
He explained how it never felt like he was working on Christmas Day due to the fact the pub's regular customers felt like family.
Elsewhere this week, Jamie is encouraging his Instagram followers to back a campaign to get free school meals to more children across the country.
Bite Back 2030 is a petition launched by Christina Adane, 18, calling on the UK government to help 800,000 in need of free school meals.
Christina - who grew up on free school meals - writes in the description of the petition : "Right now, I’m really worried because 800,000 children are living in poverty — but aren’t considered eligible for free school meals. I can’t understand why.
"I have been inspired by young people like Asha and Saffron who are telling their stories to show how the rising cost of living is hitting them, and want to stand up for the huge number of families who are struggling to afford the basics."
As of Wednesday morning, 231, 475 people have backed the campaign and added their signature to the Change.org petition.
Jamie gave the petition a boost on Tuesday, as he told his 9.2million Instagram followers: "Hit the link in my bio to have your say and sign @biteback2030's petition to get free school meals to more kids who really need them. Thank you very much, big love x."
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033
