James Martin (chef)

James Martin (born 30 June 1972) is a British chef and television presenter, best known for his television work with the cookery series '' Saturday Kitchen'' from 2006 until 2016, before leaving the BBC.

More recently, Martin has presented ''James Martin's French Adventure'' (2017), '' James Martin's Saturday Morning'' (2017–present) and ''James Martin's American Adventure'' (2018) for ITV.

Early life

Martin's family were farmers on the Castle Howard estate in North Yorkshire, where he helped his mother in the kitchen, igniting his interest in cuisine. He lived in Welburn, attending Amotherby School in Malton and later on, Malton School.

Career

Early career

James Martin trained at Hostellerie De Plaisance, Saint-Émilion, France, He then moved to the 3 Michelin Star restaurant Maison Troisgros in Roanne, France. He then returned to the UK and spent two years as a Pastry Chef at Chewton Glen Hotel in the South of England.

Television

Martin first appeared on television in 1996, on programmes including ''James Martin: Yorkshire's Finest'' (set in various Yorkshire locations with an emphasis on Yorkshire cuisine), ''Ready Steady Cook'' and ''The Big Breakfast''.

Martin co-presented BBC Food's ''Stately Suppers'' with Alistair Appleton, and then appeared on the Channel 4 programme ''Richard & Judy'', where he would visit a member of the public in their own home who had been nominated to be cooked a 'comfort food' meal. From 2006 until 2016, he was the presenter of the BBC One show '' Saturday Kitchen''.

In September 2011, Martin was tasked with revamping the menu and catering facilities at Scarborough General Hospital, for ''Operation Hospital Food'' for the BBC. The show was recommissioned for a second and third series, which were shown on BBC One in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

In June 2013, ''The Roux Scholarship'' was shown on Watch. Martin joined the judging panel, along with fellow celebrity chefs including Rick Stein, Raymond Blanc and Angela Hartnett.

In July 2013, Martin appeared alongside Angela Hartnett and Richard Corrigan on BBC One on a special edition of '' The Great British Menu'' entitled ''The Great British Budget Menu''. The show aimed to highlight food poverty and involved the chefs cooking nutritious meals on a budget.

In September 2013, the programme ''James Martin's Food Map of Britain'' aired on BBC Two. There were 10 episodes with each focusing on a different region of Britain. Martin investigated the produce of each area and cooked two dishes per episode. Since 2013, he has been a judge on ''Junior Bake Off'' on the CBBC channel.

In October 2014, Martin presented a new daytime show for BBC One called ''Meet the Street'', which aimed to unite communities and reduce loneliness. In 2015, he guest presented numerous episodes of ''The One Show'' with Alex Jones. The same year, Martin presented ''The Box'', a daytime cookery series for BBC One.

In 2015, while attending the ''BBC Good Food Middle East Awards'' in Dubai, Martin witnessed the death of magazine boss Dominic De Sousa, whom he had been speaking with just moments before the tabloid mogul stood up and suffered a fatal heart attack. This event had an effect on Martin and had a part in him later deciding to leave ''Saturday Kitchen''.

In February and March 2016 Martin toured his first live show around the UK entitled ''Plates, mates and automobiles''.

Since September 2017, Martin has presented '' Saturday Morning with James Martin'', a cookery show for ITV.

Journalism

Until 2013, Martin wrote a motoring column for UK newspaper ''The Mail on Sunday''.

In 2009, Martin wrote in his column that he hated cyclists, and deliberately took pleasure in scaring them by driving an electric Tesla Roadster (2008) in a manner that startled a cycling group, forcing them off the road. Following criticism from cycling groups and professionals such as Bradley Wiggins and Stuart O'Grady, he apologised for the statements. Complaints said that the driving was illegal and dangerous.

Restaurants

Martin opened his restaurant, The Leeds Kitchen, inside the Alea Casino in Leeds in 2011. The casino, and with it the restaurant, closed in March 2013.

In 2012, he opened a restaurant inside the Talbot Hotel, Malton, North Yorkshire. The restaurant won a Michelin star at the end of 2012. In June 2013 it was reviewed by food critic Jay Rayner for ''The Observer'', who described his meal there as "three beautifully poised, close to faultless dishes". Martin left The Talbot in February 2015.

In September 2013, Martin opened his restaurant James Martin Manchester, specialising in modern British cuisine.

There are branches of James Martin Kitchen bakery and cafe located airside at Stansted and Glasgow airports, and at Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station.

Cookery School

Martin teaches at The Kitchen – Cookery School at Chewton Glen, a cookery school and relaxed dining restaurant in New Milton, Hampshire.

Wine

In September 2021, Martin launched a range of premium French wines, which are produced in the village of Névian, near Narbonne in the Corbières region.

Allegations of bullying

There have been numerous reports of bullying behaviour by Martin towards members of production team staff. In 2018 he was reported to have had a temper tantrum after a drain became blocked whilst filming a cooking show at his home. In July 2023, further reports surfaced of bullying towards production colleagues, resulting in several being reduced to tears by his behaviour. Martin stated "lessons have been learned". On 28 July 2023, Martin released a statement saying that he had been suffering from facial cancer at the time of the 2018 incident and has needed regular surgery.

Driving controversy

On 12 September 2009, Martin angered cyclists by stating that he "spotted those damned Spider-Man cyclists. Knowing they wouldn't hear me coming, I stepped on the gas 'sic'' waited until the split second before I overtook them, then gave them an almighty blast on the horn at the exact same time I passed them at speed. The look of sheer terror as they tottered into the hedge was the best thing I've ever seen in my rear-view mirror."

Professional cyclists such as Bradley Wiggins and Robbie McEwen publicly condemned Martin's actions on their Twitter accounts, and his remarks provoked outrage on cycling forums.

Personal life

In 2009, Martin gained a private pilot licence, and later qualified as a helicopter pilot.

Martin has been in a relationship with his long-term girlfriend, TV producer Louise Davies, since 2011. Martin met Davies on '' Celebrity Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?''

Awards and honours

In 2010, Martin was awarded the title of Honorary Professor by the University of West London, London School of Hospitality and Tourism, along with Michel Roux, Raymond Blanc and Anton Mosimann.

On 10 June 2013, Martin was honoured with The Craft Guild of Chefs Special Award. In 2015, he was named TV Personality of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason Awards. Martin was inducted into the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers at the International Cheese Awards 2016.

In 2021, Martin was again voted TV Personality of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason Awards. On 6 September 2021, Martin's Saturday Morning scooped Best Food Show at the TV Choice Awards. In November 2021, Martin won the Most Influential Chef, Cook or Food Writer award, and also Best Cookbook, for ''Great British Adventure: A celebration of Great British food'' at the Great British Food Awards.

Filmography

;Television

Books

* ''The Deli Cookbook''
* ''James Martin's Delicious!: The Deli Cookbook''
* ''Easy British Food''
* ''James Martin Desserts''
* ''James Martin's Great British Winter Cookbook''
* ''Eating In With James Martin''
* ''The Great British Village Show Cookbook''
* ''The Saturday Kitchen Cookbook''
* ''James Martin - The Collection''
* ''James Martin's Great British Dinners''
* ''Driven: Cooking in the Fast Lane - My Story''
* ''James Martin - Desserts''
* ''My Kitchen''
* ''Masterclass: Make Your Home Cooking Easier''
* ''James Martin Easy Everyday: The Essential Collection''
* ''Slow Cooking: Mouthwatering Recipes with Minimum Effort''
* ''Fast Cooking: Really Exciting Recipes in 20 Minutes''
* ''Home Comforts''
* ''Sweet''
* ''More Home Comforts''
* ''Slow Cooking''
* ''James Martin's French Adventure''
* ''James Martin's American Adventure''
* ''James Martin's Great British Adventure''
* ''James Martin's Islands To Highlands''
* ''James Martin's Complete Home Comforts''
* ''Butter''
* ''Potato''
* ''James Martin's Spanish Adventure''
* ''Cheese''

References

External links

Official website
*

James Martin: Good Food Channel recipes

James Martin: Home Comforts recipes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, James
1972 births
Living people
People from Malton, North Yorkshire
English television chefs
Television chefs