JAMIE Oliver was never my cup of Rosie Lee.

There were times when I wanted the "Mockney" cook to shut his cakehole on our television screens.

But in recent years I have become an admirer.

He has gone from Naked Chef to Campaigning Chef so I eat my words.

Jamie has spoken out about the lack of nutrition in school meals and crossed the country visiting canteens and offering attractive menus that can only benefit children.

He has grilled politicians and even served petitions to Number 10.

To this day I can’t stomach rhubarb and custard, and every time I hear the song Food Glorious Food from that other Oliver I am transported back to such Dickensian fayre where we school kids would say "Please sir, I don’t want any more." 

I am glad Jamie is around now and for current and future generations.

He advises the government on child obesity and puts the knife in where it is needed.

This week it was revealed that the government's November spending review plans to cut free school meals for all infant primary school children in England.

Jamie is fuming, rightly calling it a "disaster" and pointing out that packed lunches are no substitute.

Now fellow chef Raymond Blanc has chipped in, saying that the cuts are "short-sighted" and will prove "catastrophic".

These cuts are something every one should oppose locally and nationally via our councillors and politicians.

This food snatching scenario reminds me of when Mrs Thatcher made school milk monitors redundant when she scrapped nutritious, calcium-giving free milk in the 70s. So Jamie, please keep stirring it up – we need a voice like yours in and out of the kitchen.

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TALKING of health and wellbeing, I have signed the pledge (well, a pledge) and I am looking forward to the challenge.

As we await Children In Need and other fund-raising events I have had some sobering thoughts. A campaign called Go Sober For October wants people to give up the booze for the whole month and what you don't spend on drink you donate to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Along with improvements for your diet and exercise routine the team tells me the campaign has real benefits – you will feel better and your well being will improve, there will be weight loss, increased energy levels, better sleep, clearer head and skin and no hangovers.

I am hooked already. Also a wonderful charity gets cash.

So, from October 1 to October 31, I will be alcohol-free and I may not stop there. For details of this imitative check out Gosober.org.uk

I hope my health kick will have the same effect on me as it did to a journalist friend who went on the wagon when she became pregnant.

She gave up cigarettes and alcohol. When she returned to work she looked radiant and she told me she had saved up so much money from her abstinence she could afford a European cruise. She never went back to either of her habits and is still cruising.

Being well suits her and her child. So I toast her and anyone else who takes part in this positive October revolution.

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I AM pleased TV bosses are bringing classic literary adaptations to our screens but, sadly, it comes at a price. Sex over substance.

We have had Poldark which had women swooning over a near naked hero who took a strip out of Mr Darcy’s book by showing off his six-pack.

Recently, it's been working class male totty being pursued by upper class female toffs.

Lady Chatterley's Lover and The Go Between both featured actors looking like male models from Coke adverts.

Ratings soared and gave the tabloids torsos to flaunt.

I just hope everyone keeps their clothes on in this Sunday's Cider With Rosie dramatisation. it’s enough to turn you to drink (oh, I forgot, I'm teetotal).

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AND finally ... All this week BBC Radio Merseyside's Tony Snell has been featuring songs that have banal lyrics.

His own favourite piece of pop pap, Snelly tells me, comes from Duran Duran's hit Is There Something I Should Know?

Here is the gem: "Don’t say you are easy on me – you are about as easy as a nuclear war…"

They don't write them like that anymore. Thank goodness.

Peter Grant