Interview: JLS and Masterchef star JB Gill talks food, farms and Buckingham Palace

 
Farmer: JB Gill is helping educate children on the origins of food
Amira Hashish17 July 2014
The Weekender

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JLS singer turned farmer JB Gill is fronting a new Origins programme by Kellogg’s to help educate children about food.

The company will fund new teaching aids, developed by the National Schools Partnership, to enlighten pupils on the origins of food. Resources include lesson plans and a short film to assist teachers.

"If you are an inner city kid you don't know where your food comes from - why would you? You just go to the supermarket with your parents. This is an initiative that tries to educate children while making it fun," says JB.

"If the schools can get behind this and visiting farms can become an extra curricular activity then that is brilliant."

A poll of 2,000 parents and primary school children in the UK found that one in six don’t know that vegetables are grown on farms and despite 3.2 million children enjoying a bowl of cereal at least five times a week, one in 10 do not know that Corn Flakes are made from corn. A mere one per cent want to grow up to be a farmer.

Since JLS split, JB has focused his efforts on preparing for his first child with wife Chloe and expanding his farm.

However, the Croydon born star, who recently finished a stint on Celebrity Masterchef, still has a soft spot for the capital. He says: "London has so much to offer, it is an incredible city. There is so much to learn and appreciate here.

"I have got family all over in the US, the Caribbean and Antiga. Every time they come over it gives me an excuse to act like a tourist and visit attractions such as the London Eye and Houses of Parliament. I have seen the Lion King about 10 times."

If he could live in any London building it would be Buckingham Palace: "I would love to explore the whole property. I have been to a few stately homes and often they can feel a bit detached from reality but despite being grand, Buckingham Palace feels homely."

Video produced and edited by Josh Longmore @JBLongmore

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