I rarely look up to people (I’m not being literal here, though I’m 6ft 4) in the way that i do with Jamie Oliver.
It seems to me that below the laddish, cockney veneer lays a man who cares passionately enough about his subject to put his neck on the line and to say it like it is.
I found his TED talk to be one of the most inspiring so far. Not because of any great speaking ability, but because you can see that he is communicating with courage and 100% commitment to a cause that matters deeply to him.
I never thought I’d have a chef as a hero!