British chef Jamie Oliver 'turned down hobbit role'

British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has revealed that he was offered the role of a hobbit in exchange for cooking director Peter Jackson a birthday meal, but rejected the chance due to work committments. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has revealed that he was offered the role of a hobbit in exchange for cooking director Peter Jackson a birthday meal, but rejected the chance due to work committments. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON (AFP) - British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has revealed that he was offered the role of a hobbit in exchange for cooking director Peter Jackson a birthday meal, but rejected the chance due to work committments.

The British cook told American actress Kate Hudson about the deal with the Lord Of The Rings director on his new Channel 4 show, Jamie And Jimmy's Friday Night Feast.

"The worst thing that happened to me was that I got phoned up by the exec producer and asked, did I want to go and cook for Peter Jackson's birthday, the big birthday," he said.

"And if I did, they would fly me over and I could be a hobbit in the film. But I was working, I couldn't get out of it. I really wanted to do it," he added.

"I would have got right into it as well, I would have taken the costume home and said 'Jools, let's make love!'," joked the chef.

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