Jamie originally harbored dreams of pop stardom with his band Scarlet Division, but by the age of 16 decided to become a chef. After college he earned his stripes in France and then as a pastry chef before starting at the River Café, where he really learned his trade. It was during a television documentary about the River Café that Jamie first caught the attention of the program's editors. Thanks to his on-screen charisma he was featured heavily in the finished documentary and the offers came flooding in. So The Naked Chef was born. The program was a huge success, with an intimate and fresh approach to the television chef. Jamie's informal and playful demeanor, as well as his obvious passion and enthusiasm for food drew in a younger audience and revolutionized the traditional cooking program: cooking became cool! The subsequent television series and books gave Jamie fame and fortune the world over, but he always wanted to do something positive with his success.
