Jez Rose, a familiar face from BBC Breakfast and Saturday Kitchen, has revealed that losing his fortune has led him to a newfound happiness as he launches a career in pottery. The former children's TV presenter, who also appeared on The Big Breakfast and James Martin's Saturday Morning, saw nearly all his earnings wiped out.
From TV Stardom to Financial Ruin
Rose, who hosted his own shows on ITV and BBC One before moving to Discovery and QVC, authored a best-selling book in 2015. He also launched a carbon-neutral honey farm and relocated to Delaware, USA, aiming to establish himself as a global speaker on human behaviour and change management. He worked with major organisations and travelled worldwide to share his insights on navigating change through different thinking.
“It’s a huge thing to move to another country,” Rose explained. “My attention was focused on getting myself, my dog, and my office relocated, recruiting staff, and then I was always away, staying in hotels for conferences and events. I did very well and it was incredibly lucrative, but I let other people make business decisions for me.”
A substantial unpaid tax bill demanded immediate payment, and the COVID-19 pandemic halted public speaking and travel. “Things fell apart and the business I spent 20 years building up was gone within 18 months,” he said. “I don’t blame others. I had taken my eye off the ball and no one cares about your business as much as you do. When I returned to the UK last year, I was 41 and had less than £10,000 to my name. That’s not a small amount of money, and I was grateful for what I had, but losing the business felt a huge setback.”
Discovering Pottery
Rose’s father paid for him and his partner Todd to take a break in a holiday rental in Cornwall, which included ‘introduction to pottery’ lessons. “The holiday was in nine weeks time and I couldn't stop thinking about the pottery,” Rose recalled. “It was on my mind so much, I phoned someone who does workshops locally. As soon as I touched the clay, I knew it was for me. I’ve never felt so connected.”
Now residing in Burley-on-the-Hill in Rutland, Rose has found a deep satisfaction in life. He leveraged his experience from the honey farm to create ‘Found’, the first certified carbon-neutral ceramics studio, located in the village of Bulwick.
Commitment to Sustainability
Running a sustainable ceramics studio poses challenges due to high-temperature kilns and paints and glazes sourced from mineral quarries. However, Rose invested extensive research and visited suppliers to minimise environmental harm. He acquired the most energy-efficient kiln available and operates it on sustainable energy. A closed-loop water system filters clay sediment from wastewater, allowing reuse within the studio.
Rose will launch his first collection of limited edition handmade ceramics later this year at foundceramics.com. Each piece is ‘intentionally imperfect’, featuring a nick or tweak. “I follow the principles of Buddhism,” he explained. “Embracing imperfection is central to spiritual practice. It’s the acceptance that nothing in life is perfect.”
