Jamie Oliver cookery classes cancelled

JAMIE Oliver-inspired cookery classes that offered to teach people how to cook like the celebrity chef were scrapped – after just a handful of hopefuls signed up.

Jamie Oliver had hoped to turn people into master chefs. Picture: PA

West Lothian College had trumpeted the arrival of the classes as “pioneering”, but was forced to cancel them after being faced with empty classrooms.

TV chef Jamie, 38, had backed the Home Cooking Skills courses, which he hoped would turn the public into master chefs.

However, the £200 classes, which started on 31 August and were set to for 12 weeks at the Livingston campus, have now been shelved by bosses. College chiefs have also admitted a second phase of advanced Jamie classes are also under review.

The college course would have seen students learn more than 80 recipes and cover topics from eggs and baking to vegetables and quick-cook meals.

A West Lothian College spokeswoman said: “Unfortunately we are unable to run the Jamie Oliver Home Cooking Skills course this term due to insufficient demand. All courses are subject to change or cancellation depending on student numbers. If there is further interest, we will consider running this course next term.”

West Lothian’s principal, Mhairi Laughlin, had earlier told of her delight at being the first Scottish college to offer the Jamie Oliver courses.

It had been hoped that, as a result of the classes, there would be a greater understand of food by those who had taken part.

The cookery course had been the latest venture of Oliver, who is said to be worth £150 million with a chain of restaurants around the world.