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Jamie Oliver discusses Jools's family ultimatum: 'She puts up with a lot'

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Sharnaz Shahid
Deputy Online Editor
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Jamie Oliver may be one of the nation's most beloved television chefs with several accolades to his name, but making time for his family will always be on the top of his priority list. Speaking in a new interview with HELLO! Magazine, the 41-year-old revealed it hasn't always been easy for him to divide his time between work commitments and his loved ones.

"I used to work seven days a week, forever," he confessed. "It would be unusual for me not to work. But Jools was very clear when we had Poppy and said, 'Monday to Friday is yours, but the weekends are mine. Give me the holidays as well and everything will be fine.' So it's actually clear cut."

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Jamie Oliver has opened up about family life at home

Jamie and his wife Jools became parents for the fifth time when they welcomed little River Rocket on 8 August. He is the youngest of their children; the pair are also parents to Poppy Honey Rose, 14, Daisy Boo Pamela, 13, Petal Blossom Rainbow, seven, and six-year-old Buddy Bear Maurice.

The couple - who met in 1993 before tying the knot in 2000 - announced their baby news in March when Jools showed off her baby bump at the London premiere of Eddie The Eagle. Speaking about his beloved wife, Jamie noted: "I think she probably puts up with a lot. She's a simple girl - she just wants me around, really."

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"I think she probably puts up with a lot," he said of his wife Jools

The TV star also mentioned how he and Jools are looking forward to some "date nights" now that four-month-old River was settling into a routine. "River is really good now, so we're relieved. Sleep deprivation is hard. But it's a dream now," he said. "We're like teenagers all of a sudden. We just need to get River into a bit more of a routine before we leave the house. Having time alone with Jools is the rarest thing."

Making sure he pays attention to all of their children, Jamie continued: "They're all so different. Buddy and Petal are very cuddly and tactile, but the teenagers want different things from me now, so I try to divide it up. It's lovely going home to a busy household."