By Joel Leaver
Jamie Oliver has divided viewers with his latest culinary TV show in which he provided recipes for those with air fryers.
The chef, 48, fronts the new two-part Channel 4 series Jamie's Air Fryer Meals, which launched on Monday night. Recipes on the first episode included a roast chicken curry, cheese and chive scones as well as a Baked Alaska dessert.
The show has been made in partnership with air fryer brand Tefal. A note to viewers from the broadcaster at the start of the first episode states: "This programme contains product placement". A synopsis for the series teases: "[Jamie] shows us how to elevate our culinary credentials with the latest kitchen craze, as he brings us some delicious dishes and innovative ways to make the most of our air fryers."
Viewers have shared their thoughts about the new series on X, formerly known as Twitter, this week. Several people suggested that they weren't impressed by the concept of the new show and took to the platform to discuss it.
One person wrote: "What next James Martin Microwaves? Rick Stein slow cooks? This programme is a joke." Another said: "What's next Jamie Does Lettuce Wraps?" A third said: "His jump on the culinary bandwagon is cringeworthy."
Another viewer teased in a tweet: "There's a show on @Channel4 where Jamie Oliver cooks dishes in an air fryer. This is what you get when Phil from marketing asks a focus group and ChatGPT to come up with a cooking show."
Someone said: "Bloody hell now [Channel 4] have Jamie Oliver a programme with an air fryer. Just waiting now for the BBC to commission Saturday Morning With An Airfryer." Another person wrote: "He'll have an airfryer book out soon." Sharing their thoughts, one viewer said: "Should be called Jamie Oliver and the hour long Tefal advert."
Others questioned the ingredients for the recipes. One person wrote: "Chucking honey and sesame seeds in. It's alright doing those dishes but there still is a cost of living thing going on with your sun dried tomatoes etc."
Another said: "I always watch Jamie Oliver's new shows, and the Air fryer one is decent. But someone needs to tell him how expensive ingredients are. Especially olive oil. We're not all millionaires pal." They later added: "I know he does the 5 ingredient stuff, but he's taking the p*** a bit here." They weren't alone in expressing the sentiment, with someone replying to them: "I totally agree." Another viewer said: "I thought that too. He's missed the mark a bit here."
Whilst one person, who said that they had been enjoying the show, wrote in a recent tweet: "Quite a few ingredients though. [...] Food is still expensive at the moment would love less ingredients to make us more inventive."
Not everyone was unimpressed however, with a number of viewers sharing that they had enjoyed the episode on Channel 4 earlier this week. One wrote on Monday: "Wow that was so good. Learnt a lot on better use of my airfryer."
Another said: "Loved it Jamie, I never thought to use my air fryer to simply fry something as you would in a pan! Going to make the cheese scones." A third said: "Half way through programme. Fabulous. Excellent meals for an air fryer."
"You either love him or hate him, [Jamie] has debunked the claim that cooking is too complicated. He has encouraged the British public to get in the kitchen and cook and showed us it’s easy," someone else commented recently.
One person tweeted: "Just seen [Jamie] do scones in the air fryer. I reckon I'll have a bit of that." Another said: "That chicken dish looked absolutely yummy - will be trying this." Someone else said: "Cannot wait to try EVERYTHING."
Mirror Online has reached out to Jamie's reps for comment.
Jamie's Air Fryer Meals continues on Channel 4 next Monday (April 22) from 8pm.
Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.