Jamie Oliver Slams Restaurant Napkin Nabbers

Jamie Oliver has complained that diners at his restaurants have been making off with linen napkins and toilet handles.

The TV chef said thousands of napkins are going missing every month at his chain of eateries - and he has been forced to weld the handles onto the toilets.

Oliver, whose business empire is worth £150m, linked the thefts to the recession.

The 15 Minute Meals star told the Radio Times: "Thankfully, we're ridiculously busy. But I have noticed things in this recession.

"Like people nicking the linen napkins from our restaurants. We now lose about 30,000 a month.

"And there's another thing. Every restaurant of mine has the old-fashioned Thomas Crapper toilets, because I've always thought they look wicked.

"But they're really expensive and we've had to have the handles and flushers welded on because people were unscrewing them and nicking them.

"Honestly, some people were coming out for a meal and going home with half a toilet. Bonkers!"

The 37-year-old also spoke about his dealings with Government ministers, saying he had now "given up" on them.

Oliver, who has campaigned for better school meals, said: "I am turning into a grumpy old man where the Government is concerned.

"I'm not one of those people who fart around outside the UK to avoid paying tax - I'm actually proud to pay my whack.

"But I've met Government and education secretaries, and I'm just so bored and underwhelmed by them.

"And every year when I'm doing my tax return and putting that figure in the box at the bottom, I can't help thinking 'I wouldn't give it to them. I wouldn't even employ them'."

Oliver went on to say that his new 15 Minute Meals series, which followed Jamie's 30 Minute Meals, would be his last to cook against the clock.