Jamie Oliver: Most trusted TV chef?

It’s been a good week for TV chef Jamie Oliver. Not only is he making gains in the 2011 Sunday Times Rich List banking £41 million in the last 12 months to take his total worth to £106 million, he’s also just been named the nation’s most-trusted TV chef.

The celebrity cook – famed for his drive to encourage people to eat healthier – beat his contemporaries including Delia Smith, The Hairy Bikers, James Martin and Nigella Lawson to take the top spot in the Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brands 2011 survey of 2,357 people.

However, while Jamie has the trust of the British population, he does not appear to be faring so well in America, where Jamie’s Food Revolution has been temporarily replaced with recaps of celebrity reality show Dancing With the Stars after suffering poor ratings.

Although the show’s second season – which promotes healthy eating in Los Angeles and aims to raise awareness of child obesity – has not been as successful as the first series, network ABC has promised it will return to its Tuesday night slot in June.

Jamie has previously spoken about his hopes of helping children in the US, saying: “It’s very nerve-racking. I’m hoping and praying I do my job properly, using the skills I’ve learned over the past five years working with hundreds and thousands of kids, organisations and governments.

“Hopefully I’m going to be up to the job.”

The five TV chefs that Brits trust the most:

1. Jamie Oliver 25%

2. Delia Smith 12%

3. The Hairy Bikers 7.3%

4. James Martin 6.6%

5. Nigella Lawson 6.3%