Naked Chef Jamie Oliver said he has found the 'creme-de-la-creme' while recruiting staff for his new restaurant in Oxford.

The TV star is due to open Jamie's Italian in George Street next week and was on hand yesterday to personally supervise the finishing touches to the venue.

His passion was clear to see as he enthused about the standard of employees he has taken on to fill the 70 posts.

Mr Oliver, 33, said: "I can't tell you how good our staff are.

"They're exuberant, intelligent and savvy and have a real love of food that comes through.

"When you've got a good team, and you know they are good, it means you don't have to doubt whether something will be a success or not."

The Oxford restaurant, in the premises of the former Cock and Camel pub, is the first of five Jamie's Italians to be opened in England and he said he wanted to focus on traditional university towns.

"I'm from Essex, but Cambridge is my home city so there's even a bit of old school rivalry there," he added.

"But I think Oxford is a beautiful city and I think it might even have the edge on Cambridge."

Gennaro Contaldo - Jamie's first boss and a TV personality in his own right - has been brought in as well to help ensure that all the food is cooked with what he terms "Italian love and passion".

Mr Contaldo added: "I remember when Jamie was a very young man working for me and he said that I looked tired and that one day he would be very famous and we would work together to create something special.

"I thought it was all a bit of a laugh but here we are now."

But what do Oxford residents think about the latest eaterie to open in the city centre?

Suzy Campbell, 22, of North Oxford, said: "It's great to actually see him here doing some work. It kind of gives me confidence that it's going to be a good standard."