Jamie Oliver's Air Fryer Meals: Chef fails to impress in new Channel 4 series
Jamie Oliver has failed to impress viewers with his new Channel 4 series about cooking with air fryers.
The first episode of the programme, Jamie's Air Fryer meals, broadcasted across the UK on Monday evening, but, unlike the nifty kitchen device that the 48-year-old represents, it's left viewers less than dazzled.
The television chef, who admitted he was initially 'sceptical' about air fryers, kicked off the two-part series by sharing a prosciutto fish recipe, a roast chicken dinner curry and a peach-baked Alaska.
But his bid to show that air fryers are about 'so much more than nuggets and chips' failed to impress critics, with the Guardian branding the show 'bewilderingly cringe' and 'deafening'.
Meanwhile, viewers on X, formerly Twitter, reported a similar viewpoint, and one remarked: 'The Jamie Oliver air fryer programme is nowhere near reality.'
Jamie Oliver failed to impress viewers with the first episode of his new Channel 4 series, Jamie Oliver's Air Fryer Meals
Oliver created the Channel 4 show in partnership with Tefal following the device's boom in popularity in recent years.
The episode saw Oliver employ an air fryer to create prosciutto-baked fish, cheddar cheese and chive scones, Keralan-style roast chicken, pork and pineapple noodles, and a peach-baked Alaska.
TikTok influencer and Michelin-trained chef Poppy O'Toole also featured in the new show alongside Jamie.
Despite the television chef's best attempt to create tasty, simple air fryer recipes, backlash has brewed among critics and viewers.
Discussing the show, Lucy Mangan of the Guardian wrote: 'Jamie Oliver jumps on the culinary bandwagon in this bewilderingly cringey two-parter. Hasn't even he tired of his own shtick by now?'
'There are only two episodes in Jamie's latest venture and things are starting to feel stretched long before the end of the first.
Meanwhile, Benji Wilson on the Telegraph questioned whether the show's product placement with Tefal was problematic.
He wrote: 'Basically then, Jamie's Air Fryer Meals with Tefal is itself an advert. It could be called Tefal's Air Fryer Meals with Jamie. The question is whether this is a problem or not.'
The television chef prepared several recipes using a Tefal air fryer, including prosciutto baked fish and a Keralan-style roast chicken
The 48-year-old chef attempted to impress viewers with a prosciutto baked fish (pictured) recipe
Elsewhere, similar concerns spread across social media after the first episode aired on Monday evening.
One mocked the concept of the show and wrote: 'The Jamie Oliver air fryer programme is nowhere near reality.'
'It's basically a 30 min advert for Tefal... The bloke would sell his soul for a few quid', said another.
A third questioned: 'Jamie Oliver is doing Air Fryer Meals on ch4... is he that desperate for cash?'
Meanwhile, a fourth added: 'You can tell Jamie Oliver doesn’t have to clean his own air fryer… grating cheese straight into the drawer? Monster!'
Another said: 'Jamie, like all the other TV chefs, seem to think we don't notice they seem to have about two or three different air fryers, depending on what they're trying to cook. Like we all have two or three of them?'
A sixth added: '#Jamiesairfryermeals this programme is no good if you’re on a budget, firstly you need to spend about 50 quid on ingredients and that doesn’t include the meat.
Jamie has been sponsored by Tefal, which make air fryers, for the new two-part show on Channel 4
Viewers flocked to X, formerly Twitter, took share their thoughts on the cooking show and many were unimpressed
In a statement announcing the new Channel 4 show - which will be sponsored by Tefal, which makes air fryers - Oliver said: 'It's super-rare for a piece of kitchen kit to revolutionise how people are choosing to cook in the way the air fryer has done.
'At first, I was sceptical, but as soon as I started to test and play around with ideas, settings and new ways to create flavour and texture, I was totally hooked.
'In my mind, anything that gets people cooking is a win. And the fact that the air fryer uses less energy, saves time and creates much less washing-up – all while turning out delicious, nutritious food – can only be a good thing.
'It's a great solution for the modern family, where days are often hectic and decent meals are needed, fast.'
Oliver also cited the popularity of air fryer recipes he has been posting on his website since last year, saying they had been 'a huge hit' with more than 500,000 views.
Katie Millard of Jamie Oliver Productions said: 'Working with our long-term partner, Tefal, Jamie was able to respond to the huge public demand for more air fryer recipes and loved every second developing the new recipes.
'As this series will show, there is so much more to an air fryer than nuggets and chips.'