'Embarrassing': Jamie Oliver reveals he initially didn't want to renew wedding vows on holiday

Jamie Oliver celebrated 24 years of marriage to his wife Jools with a Las Vegas vowel renewal earlier this year, complete with an Elvis impersonator officiating.

But it's not the first time the lovebirds have gotten married again.

In April 2023, the childhood sweethearts - who first got married in 2000 and have since welcomed five children - had a lavish ceremony as a family in the Maldives, as a belated 20th wedding anniversary celebration.

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Jamie admitted he originally wasn't keen on the idea of getting re-married while on a "posh holiday", calling it "embarrassing".

Speaking on this week's episode of the NewlyWeds podcast he explained the couple had decided to renew their vows to mark 20 years but it was delayed due to the pandemic.

Then, it also doubled as a way to celebrate before their kids leave the nest.

The celebrity chef, 49, and his wife are parents to Poppy Honey, 22; Daisy Boo, 21; Petal Blossom, 15; Buddy, 13; and River Rocket, eight.

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"The girls were leaving for university and stuff, so it did feel like the nest was starting to break up so we'd never been on what you would call a posh holiday, a white sands holiday, so we went to the Maldives," he told hosts Jamie and Sophie.

"I was a bit embarrassed about the whole thing, if I'm really honest, and I wasn't so into it until we got there, and then when we got there, actually I think I probably enjoyed it more than anyone. It was just so nice."

The TV personality and restaurateur said the ceremony was "really emotional" because everything hits differently decades later.

"The first time you get married, it's like, it just feels a bit awkward and embarrassing," Jamie explained.

"But if you ever get married again, if you get to 10 years or 20 years, the words are different because you've earned every single line and it was really, really emotional.

"The words are still the same words, but they mean different things. Basically, like shit we've done it like, wow. And then you look around, there's all these amazing kids that you've made.

"It was incredible."

The couple revealed their Elvis elopement wasn't planned but came at the end of a romantic US road trip.

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All the stars who got married in 2024

Jools mused that with their 25th anniversary coming around next year, they may do another vowel renewal but have nothing planned yet.

They say the secret to a long and happy marriage is to "not hold grudges" and "don't expect too much".

During the episode they also revealed their eldest daughter, Poppy, has just returned from spending time in Australia, calling the reunion "super emotional".

"A year's a long time to not have your baby," Jamie admitted.

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