Huge celebrity chef signs megabucks deal with Netflix as he becomes latest star to be poached by the streamer
TELLY cook Jamie Oliver has become the latest big name to defect to streaming giant Netflix.
The Naked Chef made shows almost exclusively for Channel 4 over more than two decades.
But his golden handcuffs deal with the broadcaster officially ended two years ago.
Since then, Jamie and his team have been looking at a string of projects with Netflix and the first is on its global hit Chef’s Table.
Dropping next year on the streamer, it is an honour reserved for the world’s top chefs who share their stories and culinary styles.
Jamie follows in the Netflix footsteps of Jeremy Clarkson, Holly Willoughby and Joel Dommett, who have all started working with the streaming giant after becoming household names on terrestrial channels.
A TV insider said: “Signing for a huge streamer has now become a right of passage for the biggest stars on TV.
“It is seen as the next higher step in their career beyond working for the BBC, ITV or Channel 4.
“It’s a situation which might have been unthinkable a few years ago but it reflects a firm shift towards Netflix and Prime Video fast becoming the go-to for entertainment and factual programming.
“The likes of Jamie Oliver are the ultimate choice for these international streamers, because they bring along a ready-made fan base in countries dotted around the globe.”
But Jamie’s relationship with Channel 4 will not end completely.
He has several projects with it in the pipeline, but will increasingly be looking at new work with Netflix.
Jeremy started the shift in 2016 when he started to make The Grand Tour for Prime Video.
He then gave the platform its biggest hit with three series of Clarkson’s Farm, the most recent of which aired this year.
Holly has since made Netflix’s reality competition Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls, and The Masked Singer presenter Joel recently did a pilot for a new Netflix show.
A spokeswoman for Jamie Oliver declined to comment.
Jo on the go
FORMER EastEnder Jo Joyner will lead the cast of new drama series Little Disasters.
It follows the story of A&E doctor Liz, who calls social services on her pal, whose baby has a mysterious head injury that cannot be explained.
The six- episode series airs on Paramount+ later this year.
It’s two more for the road
KYM Marsh has revealed the re-vamped Waterloo Road will return for two more series.
A fifth series of the BBC production is now in full swing, while the fourth is expected to broadcast this year with Jason Manford joining the cast.
It comes a year after Kym joined the school-based drama as dinner lady Nicky – and it doesn’t look like her feisty character is going anywhere soon.
She told Radio 2: “There’s another series to come and we’re currently filming for another series. I’m a part of that, which I’m very, very pleased to be. I’ve had the best time on Waterloo Road.”
Kym, who is in a new stage version of 101 Dalmatians, playing Cruella, added: “I’m wearing many hats at the moment.”
New kid shows on the block
FOUR new animated shows are coming to kids’ channels CBeebies and CBBC.
Pre-school series Beddybyes, comedy Piri Penguins and educational cartoon Piggy Builders are in the works, alongside new CBBC series Duck And Frog about two animal friends who cannot keep a job.
Rachel counts 16 years
IT feels like only yesterday that Rachel Riley took control of Countdown’s big white board from Carol Vorderman.
But she has actually been part of the Channel 4 afternoon quiz show for nearly 16 years – although that is still ten less than Carol, who featured on it from the very start in 1982 until 2008.
Rachel said: “We are now getting contestants who were just about born when I took over.
“I’ve been there 15 and a half years and we have 16-year-old contestants.
“I’ve been there since 2008.
“I will always be the new girl but I have been there a long time now.
“I love the job and now feel part of the furniture.”
She is on course to become the Ken Barlow of Countdown.