"Jamie's School Dinners" (2005) TV series 2005-

Director:

Guy Gilbert

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

23 February 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

British TV chef Jamie Oliver is appalled by the food being served in British public schools. He learns that not only do the children prefer to eat junk food, but they have very little knowledge of vegetables and fruits and are very afraid of trying anything remotely new. This series shows all the problems and dilemmas he faces and overcomes whilst admirably attempting to make a healthier nation.

Plot Keywords:

Food | School | Lifestyle

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Timothy Spall	...	Narrator (4 episodes, 2005)
Jamie Oliver	...	Himself (4 episodes, 2005)

Series Directed by
Guy Gilbert		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Zoë Collins	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Andrew Conrad	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Guy Gilbert	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Lana Salah	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Dominique Walker	....	series producer (unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Sunshine Jackson Underhill		(unknown episodes)
Robert Thirkell		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Tracy Garrett	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Jonathan Mitchell	....	sound recordist (4 episodes, 2005)
Freddie Claire	....	sound (unknown episodes)
George Foulgham	....	dubbing mixer (unknown episodes)
Mike Turner	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Tony Coldwell	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Christopher Titus King	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Dicky Everton	....	on-line editor (4 episodes, 2005)
Nick Adams	....	colorist (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Vanya Barwell	....	coordinator (unknown episodes)
Paolo Chianta	....	researcher (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Fresh One Productions
• Channel 4 Television Corporation (for)

Distributors

• Channel 4 Television Corporation (2005) (UK) (TV)
• Food Network Canada (2005) (Canada) (TV)
• WoWow (2006) (Japan) (TV)

Other Companies

• Molinare Studio  sound post-production

Also Known As:

Runtime:

48 min (4 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:E

Company:

Fresh One Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Dispatches: The School Dinner Scandal" (2012)

Jamie Oliver is Okay

I never used to like Jamie Oliver - too young and too trendy, lots of trendy little catchphrases like 'Pukker'.

His Naked Chef series was okay, but - when watching any television cookery programme - I never take the slightest interest in actually cooking his recipes or anything at home. Does anyone? Does anyone actually write down what these TV chefs do and try it themselves? Don't the chefs themselves just make it up as they go along? I never understand the obsession with food, either. There are simply too many TV cookery programmes on these days. And none will ever reach the standard - in cooking and flamboyance/charisma - of the great Keith Floyd.

However, Jamie Oliver has done a great job in promoting healthy eating in schools. Brilliant.

In the Kidbrooke Comprehensive edition, Oliver has to produce meals for about 500 pupils for 37p each. That's about £185 for a day's lunch at school. That's about £36,000 a year for the school canteen budget (assuming about 13 weeks of the school being closed down for holidays). That's PATHETIC. It should be DOUBLED immediately. Pay the headmistress less, perhaps. Or the over-paid teachers.

I don't blame the regular canteen staff. They seem happy and genuinely work hard producing their junk food. They just need to learn to cook properly, not just settle for being re-heaters.

Oliver produces some nice, herby tomato ciabatta bread, or something and it all looks very appetising. Then he goes off to his 15 restaurant, somewhere in trendy Shoreditch, I imagine.