Meet the Author: Jon Watts

18 November 2025

Jon Watts is a chef and the bestselling author of three cookery books, Watts Cooking, Speedy Weeknight Meals and his latest title Speedy Comfort (Bloomsbury Publishing, August 2025). His recipes are designed to be simple to follow and inspiring for home cooks.

You can find Speedy Comfort and all of Jon’s books on the Suffolk Community Libraries catalogue.

Did you read as a child or visit a library?

I wasn’t a big reader. I did used to go to the library as a child, and I would always get the Asterix & Obelix comics.

What was your journey to publication?

My first recipes were shared in a local newspaper around 2015. My dream was to publish a cookbook, and so I started using social media to try and gain a platform. I ended up amassing quite a big following on social media sharing recipes a few times a week. I was rejected a few times when I tried to publish a book, and so I ended up using a small independent publisher who will help you self-publish a book. That was called ‘Watts Cooking’ and was a huge success which saw me signed by Bloomsbury to publish Speedy Weeknight Meals. SWM went on to be an instant number one best seller, and now here we are with my second Sunday times best seller, Speedy Comfort.

Who were the people who inspired you ?

In life, anyone who overcomes obstacles. In cooking, many people, but seeing as my career started with Jamie Oliver, I will go for him.

Can you tell us a little about your latest book Speedy Comfort?

Speedy Comfort is the second book in the ‘Speedy’ series. It’s packed with comfort food recipes that can be ready in under 30 minutes. I make the recipes as simple as possible to follow, always using ingredients that are budget friendly and easy to find.

What is your process for choosing a recipe for the book? Is each recipe tested and re-tested before it goes in?

It all starts with a brainstorm, and then lots and lots of testing. I also like to get my followers to make them so I get an idea of how they come out when someone follows it at home. Once the recipes are all written and tested, we then photograph each one, and that is another chance to see how they all come out. There’s no fake stuff going on in the photos, it’s all cooked to the letter as it is in the book.

As someone learning to cook I can certainly vouch for how easy to follow your recipes are. Was it a conscious decision to cut the frills and just concentrate on the basics?

Absolutely. It’s what I have always felt I have been good at, is cutting out the nonsense and making it look and sound simple. Some of my favourite recipes I have shared are ones that are often deemed difficult, but I simplify them so that anyone can make it.

How can we get more people cooking and using healthy ingredients rather than grabbing a takeaway?

I think by showing people how easy it can be. I like to think that’s what I do with my books and my social media.

What’s next for you?

I feel like I am at a bit of a crossroads at the moment. The books have been popular, so I would like to continue to publish more books. Aside from that, I have a few ideas of where I want to go next, but I won’t say more just now. Watch this space.

You have been involved with the Liberty Kitchen charity. How did that come about and how can anyone reading this help?

For context, I learnt to cook in prison as a teenager. Now almost 20 years later I can give back. I’ve often done things in prisons, schools and charities, but I felt like I was spreading myself too thin. I was approached by another trustee of Liberty Kitchen and asked if I would be interested in joining.

Liberty Kitchen is a charity based in HMP Pentonville where they teach prisoners to cook. They also prepare food that is then sold on a couple of street food stalls in London, where released prisoners can work. It helps to bridge the gap between offending and employment.

Can you tell us one thing about yourself that your readers would not know?

Tough one. Probably lots, but it’s hard to think of anything. Something I always find interesting is how people are surprised that I’m quite a fun person in real life. When people see me on social media, or on tv etc, for some reason I give off the impression that I am a very serious guy, when in fact the opposite is true. I take my work seriously and that’s about it!