Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver surprised fans when he shared a collection of unearthed family Christmas photographs on Monday.
The Naked Chef star posted one photo from his childhood, where Jamie is seen playing in an inflatable silver space capsule. Another snap depicts teenage Jamie unwrapping a coffee machine on Christmas morning alongside his sister Anna-Marie.
"Check out what I've just found, how cute were we!!!" Jamie penned as the caption. "Swipe to see a few years later when we were the same age as some of my kids are now. Bonkers how time flies." Fans quickly noted the similarities between young Jamie and his youngest son, River Rocket Blue Dallas, who is eight. One user commented, "River looks so much like you!" whereas another wrote, "You and River are doubles."
Observations about family resemblance didn’t stop there. Followers also drew comparisons between Jamie’s sister and his daughters, Poppy, Daisy, and Petal. Comments such as, "Your daughters look like your sister!" and "What? Is this your sister?? She looks just like your daughter," flooded the comments section.
Indeed, the family resemblance runs strong among the Oliver clan, with Jamie and his wife Jools often noted for their similarities to their five children. Jamie and Jools, teenage sweethearts, tied the knot back in 2000 after eight years of dating. They've expanded their family over the years, welcoming their first daughter, Poppy, two years later, followed by Daisy and Petal, and their two sons Buddy and River.
Reflecting on his experience as the father of teenagers, Jamie opened up during past interviews, conveying optimism as well as humor about the challenges. "They should have something like The Priory for parents of teenagers. It's really tough, isn't it?" he remarked, acknowledging his own shortcomings as he navigates parenting through the teenage years.
Despite River sharing remarkable physical traits with his father, it appears he isn't overly impressed with Jamie's culinary accomplishments. During a guest appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Jamie recounted, "The other night River said, and I have no idea where it came from, 'Daddy, do you possess a Michelin star?'" He jovially admitted how River's reaction made him feel like he hadn’t worked hard enough.
Meanwhile, the family’s embrace of culinary tradition continues, with Jamie's other son Buddy actively developing his cooking skills. Jamie often shares Buddy's culinary tutorials on his 10.5 million-follow Instagram account. Jamie gleefully narrated, "Buddy's been my shadow in the kitchen since he was tiny, and he has always found cooking to be a real adventure." He mentioned how proud it made him to witness Buddy's growth and developing passion for cooking.
Jamie once described Buddy's upcoming cookbook, filled with recipes intended to be simple and accessible: "None of the recipes are hard to do; you'll find easy breakfasts, meatballs, pizza, and some sweet treats. I just hope people enjoy giving them a go!"
The happy family even chose to renew their vows several times over the years, marking major milestones alongside their children. Just last year, they celebrated their 24th anniversary with another ceremony, this time on the beaches of Las Vegas. Jamie recounted how it was quite the beautiful experience, initially feeling embarrassed about the undertaking, only to later proclaim he enjoyed it more than anyone.
Reflecting on the memories captured through the photographs, it's evident the holiday season holds significant importance for Jamie Oliver and his family. It symbolizes cherished traditions, deep bonds, and the gradual transformation of those who continue to share the stage of life, from childhood moments frozen in time to the present day's lively family connections.
