By Samantha Masters

Copyright walesonline

Jamie Oliver says he and his wife Jools are adjusting to a new family dynamic, after their two eldest daughters recently flew the nest. The chef and his long-term spouse are parents to five children; Poppy, 23, Daisy, 22, Petal, 16, Buddy, 15, and River, nine. In recent times, Poppy and Daisy moved out of the family home to take on new adventures. Their eldest has spent time travelling around Australia, while her sister has enrolled onto a nursing degree. Giving an update on this change, Jamie says while the home is a bit less chaotic, the noise is still pretty much there. “With less of us at home, it’s slightly less chaotic, but I’m not going to lie and say it’s quieter,” he told Hello! Magazine. “You do miss that noise, you miss them. I know Jools really feels it.” The 50-year-old’s latest interview follows his recent revelation that some of his children are neurodivergent. According to Cleveland Clinic, neurodivergent is a nonmedical term that describes people whose brains develop, or work differently for different reasons. Back in June, Jamie said some of their children had diagnoses of dyslexia, ADHD and ASD (autism spectrum disorder) in the past year. Though he didn’t reveal details about who had been diagnosed, the chef told The Sunday Times Magazine how he and Jools had adapted to their ways. Jamie, who is also dyslexic, said they have “learnt to understand that their behaviour is because they’re seeing things differently”. He went on to say being aware of their children’s differences also allowed him and Jools to be better parents. Echoing his words in his latest interview, he said: “Looking at how neurodiversity showed up within the family has only ever been helpful. “Knowing how each other’s brains work can only give you a better understanding of where people are coming from, and what they might need to get through the day in the best way, and ultimately how you can support each other to thrive.” Jamie has often spoken about his struggles growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia, a learning difficulty that primarily affects reading and writing. Having not received an official diagnosis until January 2025, the chef admitted he felt “stupid, worthless and thick” in his younger years, and was often called mean names by other children at school. Following his diagnosis, he went on to front the Channel 4 documentary Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution, to explore dyslexia in the education system and his own life. At the time, he said: “It’s no secret I struggled at school , but I was one of the lucky ones. I knew I wanted to be a chef, so I had somewhere to go, catering school, where I could thrive. The kitchen genuinely saved me. But not everyone is as lucky as me – what happens to those who don’t know where to go? We can’t leave kids’ futures up to luck. “We need the education system to update, so everyone has the best possible chance in life.”