TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp has supported celebrity chef Jamie Oliver amid criticism of his latest cooking show.
The chef, 48, fronted the two-part Channel 4 series Jamie’s Air Fryer Meals, which concluded on Monday night after having launched last week. Jamie shared recipes for dishes such as herb-stuffed salmon and a chocolate cheesecake. The show was made in partnership with air fryer brand Tefal.
A note at the start of each episode states: “This programme contains product placement”. Its synopsis teased: “[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.”
Alongside excitement over the first episode last week, there had also been criticism. Viewers had taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts and there was further feedback on the platform amid the second episode.
Kirstie was among those who reacted to the new show on Monday. She was complimentary about Jamie in a tweet and referenced his debut cooking show, the Naked Chef, which was first broadcast on BBC Two back in 1999.
She wrote about his latest series in a tweet whilst the second episode aired: “No one beats [Jamie] – his new Air Fryer show on @Channel4 is brilliant. TBH if it was on any channel I’d be saying the same. 25 years since The Naked Chef he is still the most inspiring & enthusiastic chef on TV.”
Reflecting on some commentary made last week, one person however responded to her: “It’s an ad for Tefal.”
Seemingly defending Jamie and the show, Kirstie replied in a tweet this week: “Someone has to pay for the show to be made.”
When asked if she had an air fryer herself, Kirstie – known for presenting shows like Location, Location, Location – revealed that she’s yet to get one.
Addressing the question, she told one follower: “Not yet, but Jamie is inspiring me.”
Several people agreed with Kirstie’s initial tweet. One person reacted: “Agreed. I’m definitely going to have a go at the flatbreads, they look delicious.”
Another fan stated: “Yes, he is the only one that gets me into the kitchen cooking!”
“Agreed,” a third person told her. Someone else said in their response: “And his recipes always work first time.”
One fan wrote: “Husband has just said well if Jamie has one maybe we should get an air fryer. Jamie can do no wrong!”
Whilst someone else suggested that they had been inspired by one of the recipes that appeared in the first episode, which aired last week. They replied to Kirstie on Monday: “[I’ve] tried the baked Alaska in mine – [absolutely] amazing.”
There was further commentary on the platform, with one tweet reading: “I wasn’t going buy [an] #airfryer but now I’ve seen [Jamie] use on I’ll [definitely] be investing. [He] just knows how to make cooking food [look] good.”
Someone said: “I’m loving [his air fryer] recipes.”
One fan wrote: “I loved your vanilla and chocolate cheesecake in their air fryer in tonight’s episode. So I’m definitely making that in our one.”
Not everyone was impressed though. One person wrote on the platform about the show: “Too much promotion of Tefal I’m afraid.”
Another critic said in a tweet on Monday about the project: “The sound of the barrel being scraped.”
It comes following criticism of Jamie’s Air Fryer Meals last week when the first episode launched. One person had said: “What next James Martin Microwaves? Rick Stein slow cooks? This programme is a joke.”
Another viewer teased: “What’s next Jamie Does Lettuce Wraps?”
Whilst a third had said: “His jump on the culinary bandwagon is cringeworthy.”
Sharing their thoughts, one viewer said last week: “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 the 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.”
There had been praise last week too though. One fan at the time “Wow that was so good. Learnt a lot on better use of my airfryer.”
A second commented in a tweet: “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.”
One person said: “Just seen [Jamie] do scones in the air fryer. I reckon I’ll have a bit of that.”
Another fan wrote: “That chicken dish looked absolutely yummy – will be trying this.”
Someone else said: “Cannot wait to try EVERYTHING.”
Both episodes of Jamie’s Air Fryer Meals are available through Channel 4’s on demand service now.
