There is still a scattering of ‘epics’ and ‘happy days’ but this Christmas, a newer, altogether calmer Jamie has entered his elder statesman era – and he’s all the better for it

I last watched Jamie Oliver earlier this year, presenting a documentary about dyslexia – a condition he has and which, undiagnosed, caused him much suffering at school and in his early life – which was very good. I last watched Jamie Oliver cooking in Jamie Oliver’s Air Fryer Meals – a two-parter sponsored by Tefal – which was very bad.

Now he is back, with Jamie’s Cook-Ahead Christmas. He shows us a potato and fennel gratin that can be served au naturel or – with a last-minute pastry envelope and a few carvings and pinchings that would see me pulverise the whole thing into a catastrophe, but which anyone who reaches the threshold of “minimally coordinated human” should totally do – as a beautiful ruched pie. You can make and freeze that now and reheat it on Christmas Day. I would fear for such a process with a mixture of potato, cream and pastry, but I am a culinary berk and Jamie is not, so listen to him not me.

There is still a scattering of ‘epics’ and ‘happy days’ but this Christmas, a newer, altogether calmer Jamie has entered his elder statesman era – and he’s all the better for it

I last watched Jamie Oliver earlier this year, presenting a documentary about dyslexia – a condition he has and which, undiagnosed, caused him much suffering at school and in his early life – which was very good. I last watched Jamie Oliver cooking in Jamie Oliver’s Air Fryer Meals – a two-parter sponsored by Tefal – which was very bad.

Now he is back, with Jamie’s Cook-Ahead Christmas. He shows us a potato and fennel gratin that can be served au naturel or – with a last-minute pastry envelope and a few carvings and pinchings that would see me pulverise the whole thing into a catastrophe, but which anyone who reaches the threshold of “minimally coordinated human” should totally do – as a beautiful ruched pie. You can make and freeze that now and reheat it on Christmas Day. I would fear for such a process with a mixture of potato, cream and pastry, but I am a culinary berk and Jamie is not, so listen to him not me.

There is still a scattering of ‘epics’ and ‘happy days’ but this Christmas, a newer, altogether calmer Jamie has entered his elder statesman era – and he’s all the better for it

I last watched Jamie Oliver earlier this year, presenting a documentary about dyslexia – a condition he has and which, undiagnosed, caused him much suffering at school and in his early life – which was very good. I last watched Jamie Oliver cooking in Jamie Oliver’s Air Fryer Meals – a two-parter sponsored by Tefal – which was very bad.

Now he is back, with Jamie’s Cook-Ahead Christmas. He shows us a potato and fennel gratin that can be served au naturel or – with a last-minute pastry envelope and a few carvings and pinchings that would see me pulverise the whole thing into a catastrophe, but which anyone who reaches the threshold of “minimally coordinated human” should totally do – as a beautiful ruched pie. You can make and freeze that now and reheat it on Christmas Day. I would fear for such a process with a mixture of potato, cream and pastry, but I am a culinary berk and Jamie is not, so listen to him not me.

Costs in England have now risen to £2.3bn a year, with local authorities arguing eligible pupils don’t always need a ‘door-to-door taxi service’

“Home-to-school transport” should be renamed “assisted travel to school” to help manage parental expectations, MPs on the public accounts committee have been told.

While councils are committed to helping children entitled to support to get to school, it does not have to be “a door-to-door taxi service”, leading local authority figures have said.

Costs in England have now risen to £2.3bn a year, with local authorities arguing eligible pupils don’t always need a ‘door-to-door taxi service’

“Home-to-school transport” should be renamed “assisted travel to school” to help manage parental expectations, MPs on the public accounts committee have been told.

While councils are committed to helping children entitled to support to get to school, it does not have to be “a door-to-door taxi service”, leading local authority figures have said.

Costs in England have now risen to £2.3bn a year, with local authorities arguing eligible pupils don’t always need a ‘door-to-door taxi service’

“Home-to-school transport” should be renamed “assisted travel to school” to help manage parental expectations, MPs on the public accounts committee have been told.

While councils are committed to helping children entitled to support to get to school, it does not have to be “a door-to-door taxi service”, leading local authority figures have said.

• Forward says he is ‘building confidence’ with Maresca

• Manager praises Atalanta before Champions League tie

Alejandro Garnacho says he has no regrets about the manner of his departure from Manchester United and that it was a straightforward decision to “take a step forward” by joining Chelsea last summer.

It has been a steady, rather than sparkling, first few months for Garnacho since he swapped Old Trafford for Stamford Bridge at the end of August . His relationship with Ruben Amorim had collapsed by the end of his five-year stint at United and he was banished from their squad in pre-season. Amorim felt he had failed to follow tactical instructions and, before the transfer was completed, said he sensed Garnacho wanted “a different thing with different leadership”.

• Forward says he is ‘building confidence’ with Maresca

• Manager praises Atalanta before Champions League tie

Alejandro Garnacho says he has no regrets about the manner of his departure from Manchester United and that it was a straightforward decision to “take a step forward” by joining Chelsea last summer.

It has been a steady, rather than sparkling, first few months for Garnacho since he swapped Old Trafford for Stamford Bridge at the end of August . His relationship with Ruben Amorim had collapsed by the end of his five-year stint at United and he was banished from their squad in pre-season. Amorim felt he had failed to follow tactical instructions and, before the transfer was completed, said he sensed Garnacho wanted “a different thing with different leadership”.

• Forward says he is ‘building confidence’ with Maresca

• Manager praises Atalanta before Champions League tie

Alejandro Garnacho says he has no regrets about the manner of his departure from Manchester United and that it was a straightforward decision to “take a step forward” by joining Chelsea last summer.

It has been a steady, rather than sparkling, first few months for Garnacho since he swapped Old Trafford for Stamford Bridge at the end of August . His relationship with Ruben Amorim had collapsed by the end of his five-year stint at United and he was banished from their squad in pre-season. Amorim felt he had failed to follow tactical instructions and, before the transfer was completed, said he sensed Garnacho wanted “a different thing with different leadership”.