Catering to the masses

摘要

'We are a nation in thrall to a new priesthood of gurus'. So said Frank Furedi, professor of sociology at Kent University, in a speech given at the Battle of Ideas festival at the end of October. Mr Furedi ridiculed Tony Blair and senior politicians for deferring to the likes of Jamie Oliver. In this instance, the prime minister was taking his lead from a local council. It was Greenwich which allowed St Jamie to make the hit reality TV series Jamie's Dinners on its patch.