James Martin (chef)

James Martin trained at Hostellerie De Plaisance, Saint-Émilion, France,[3] and from there, spent two years as a Pastry Chef at Chewton Glen Hotel[4] in the South of England.

He 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.[5]

In September 2011, James was tasked with revamping the menu and catering facilities at Scarborough General Hospital, for Operation Hospital Food for the BBC.[6] The show was recommissioned for a second[7] and third series [8] 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.[9]

In July 2013,[10] 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,[11] 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. James 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, James 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. In 2015, Martin presented The Box, a daytime cookery series for BBC One.[12]

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.[13]

In February and March 2016 Martin toured his first live show around the UK entitled 'Plates, mates and automobiles'.[12]

Since September 2017, Martin has presented Saturday Morning with James Martin, a Saturday morning cookery show for ITV.[14]

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.[15][16]

Martin opened his restaurant, called "The Leeds Kitchen", inside the Alea Casino in Leeds in 2011. The casino, and with it the restaurant, closed in March 2013.[17]

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.[18][19]

In September 2013 Martin opened his restaurant James Martin Manchester, specialising in modern British cuisine.[20]

There are branches of James Martin Kitchen bakery and cafe located airside at Stansted and Glasgow airports, and at Manchester Piccadilly Train Station.[21]

James teaches at The Kitchen – Cookery School at Chewton Glen, a cookery school and relaxed dining restaurant in New Milton, Hampshire.[22]

September 2021, Martin launched a range of premium French wines which are produced in the village of Névian near Narbonne in the Corbières region.[23]