Jamie Oliver thinks it was an “honour” to dwell in a pub at Christmas.

The 47-year-old chef has fond reminiscences of being raised within the Essex bar and didn’t thoughts his mother and father having to work on 25 December as a result of all of the individuals who frequented their institution grew to become like household to him.

He mentioned “It was full of festivities – decorations everywhere – very jolly, very loud.

“It was a gift, an honour, to live in a pub.

“On Christmas Day we’d be up early to do all the pressies, but we’d be open for business from 10am.

“All the locals were like extended aunts and uncles – I was brought up by 30 women.”

Jamie – who has kids Poppy, 20, Daisy, 19, Petal, 13, Buddy, 12, and River, six, with spouse Jools – is “baffled” as to why younger folks don’t need to work in kitchens as a result of he had such a good time honing his craft.

He instructed Radio Times journal: “I was good at cooking – not because I was born to do it or a genius but because I just did it again and again.

“I had a terrible time academically at school but I loved working at the weekend – learning to graft, learning to be tired, learning to earn a pound.

“I was blessed to work with seven chefs on a shift who all taught me how to do things and would whup me if I didn’t do them right.

“It baffles me why British kids and people don’t want to work in kitchens. There’s a real happiness to be had.”