Celebrity chef and school meals campaigner Jamie Oliver won the best factual series Bafta for his Jamie’s School Dinners programme, at an awards ceremony last night (8 May).

Jamie Oliver’s show, produced by Fresh One and Channel 4, is widely credited as the catalyst that forced the Government to reconsider its strategy on school meals and promise millions to improve standards.

The original programme saw Jamie Oliver transform the catering at a school in London’s Greenwich, and made Turkey Twizzlers’ infamous almost over night.

Although a popular cause, Oliver’s efforts have not been without controversy.

Local Authority Caterers Association chairman Kevin McKay has repeatedly warned that the subsequent drop off in school meals since the programme, and negative publicity about the service, threatens jobs.

To this end, Oliver called on the Government in March to commit to a long-term plan for school meals with sustained, targeted funding.

Oliver is also currently filming a one-off follow-up programme to his school meals show, which will be screened on Channel 4 this autumn.

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By Chris Druce

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