Jamie Oliver & CMAT: How a ‘Hate Song’ Became a Collaboration
The collision of worlds rarely feels as delightfully unexpected as the one currently unfolding between Irish pop artist CMAT and British chef Jamie Oliver. What began as a playful obsession documented in the song “The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station” has blossomed into a full-fledged collaboration, culminating in a music video released and a surprising cameo for Oliver in his own restaurant.
The story began with CMAT (Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson) and her 2025 album, Euro-Country, a critically acclaimed collection of indie-pop that quickly established her as a rising star. The album’s standout track, “The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station,” is a deceptively complex song born from a particularly specific, and slightly irrational, moment of frustration. As Thompson sings, she found herself at a Shell garage selling Oliver’s line of salads and sandwiches, and was struck by a sudden, inexplicable dislike for the chef’s face. The song isn’t a genuine attack on Oliver, but rather, as critic Dorian Lynskey described it, a “tragicomedy of misdirected anger,” exploring the human tendency to fixate on irrational dislikes.
Oliver’s initial reaction to the song was confusion. “What have I done wrong?” he wondered, according to reporting in The Guardian. But that confusion quickly gave way to amusement as his phone began to buzz with messages. Crucially, Oliver discovered his daughters and their friends were fans of the track, despite the lyrics acknowledging the potential for offense (“CMAT knows she shouldn’t be a bitch / The man’s got kids and they wouldn’t like this”). This familial endorsement, it seems, was a key factor in his willingness to engage with the song and its creator.
The collaboration took shape when CMAT, emboldened by Oliver following her on Instagram in February – coincidentally on her 30th birthday – directly asked if he’d be willing to appear in a music video for the song. To Oliver’s credit, he responded with enthusiasm. “I’ve got massive respect for the creative arts and music, and I know how hard it is now more than ever,” he stated. “When CMAT asked me to be in the video, I was 100% in.”
The resulting video, debuted at CMAT’s headlining show at London’s Alexandra Palace on , is a playful and self-aware affair. It intercuts scenes of CMAT and her “Very Sexy CMAT Band” performing in a retro, 60s television studio setting with footage of Oliver navigating a typically chaotic day in the kitchen of his newly reopened Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Leicester Square. The restaurant’s revival is itself a notable story, having collapsed in 2019 before being resurrected.
The video’s highlight sees Oliver escaping to his office, spotting CMAT on a television screen, and launching into an escapist fantasy. This culminates in CMAT appearing in the empty restaurant, performing the song’s climax although Oliver, surprisingly adept, joins her on drums – a nod to his musical past with the band Scarlet Division, which provided the theme tune for his early television series, The Naked Chef. “He’s still got it” behind the kit, CMAT confirmed, adding that his team were “lovely” and generously provided the crew with a meal after filming.
The shoot itself took place during a particularly hectic period for Oliver and his team, amidst “chef and staff training week” at the novel restaurant. “Furniture was still arriving, we hadn’t finished decorating… My team thought I was completely mad, but they loved it,” Oliver recalled. He clearly embraced the absurdity of the situation, enjoying conversations with CMAT about everything from food and life to the merits of a string section in a pop song and the Essex origins of her drummer.
Oliver’s perspective on the song has evolved since first hearing it. He now understands CMAT’s point about making assumptions without fully understanding the context. “We all live in a world where we make assumptions without understanding the whole picture,” he explained, expressing hope that CMAT now finds him “less annoying.” He also acknowledged his ongoing passion for discovering new music, citing Portuguese singer-songwriter Maro, British artists Loyle Carner and Tom Misch, UK garage pioneer MJ Cole, and the resurgence of Britpop as current favorites.
The collaboration raises an intriguing question: will CMAT return the favor and appear in Oliver’s next festive special? “I believe my invite is in the post,” she quipped, hinting at the possibility of further creative interplay between these two unlikely collaborators. The story of CMAT and Jamie Oliver is a testament to the power of embracing the unexpected, and a reminder that even irrational dislikes can lead to surprisingly fruitful artistic partnerships.