JAMIE CONFIDENTIAL

Jamie Oliver just might be the most popular chef in the world. In just four frantic years, hes gone from low-ranking pasta cook at Londons trendy River Cafe to a household name as the Naked Chef—a title earned by his "stripped-down" style of cooking. His boyish looks, infectious enthusiasm, and matey appeal have won him the kind of popularity usually accorded to pop stars. More than a young icon, his dynamic TV series "Jamies Kitchen"—in which he trained 15 unemployed kids to be chefs— revealed a serious individual with deep-held concerns about youth, work, and society. Now, media critics Stafford Hildred and Tim Ewbank talk to friends, family, and colleagues as they trace Jamies rocketing rise to the top, and look at his startling impact on international cuisine.