James Martin (chef)
James Martin (born June 30 1972 in Yorkshire) is an English celebrity chef who first appeared on television in 1996.
Biography
Martin was brought up on a farm in Yorkshire, which gave him a passion for gardening and good wholesome home cooking. His father was Catering Manager at Castle Howard and James worked in the kitchens from the age of 10, cooking for the Queen Mother on one occasion when only 11 years old. Whilst studying at Scarborough Technical College, Martin was named Student of the Year three years running. After college his career took him to acclaimed kitchens in London and Europe. He then moved to the famous Chewton Glen in Hampshire. In 1993 he opened the Hotel du Vin and Bistro in Winchester where, as Head Chef, he changed the menu every day. It was a great success, with an eight-week waiting list for a weekend table. He now has two restaurants on cruise ships in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. He owns a Deli in Winchester, called "Cadogan & James".
Television Career
He first started to appear on television in 1996, but came to wider public attention on the BBC 2 program ""Ready Steady Cook."" In 2005 Martin was partnered with Camilla Dallerup in ""Strictly Come Dancing,"" a celebrity ballroom dancing TV show, coming fourth. 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. He is now the presenter of the new version of the BBC 1 show ""Saturday Kitchen"", which is being made by Cactus TV, the company behind the "Richard & Judy" show. In 2007 he starred in a BBC 2 series named "Sweet Baby James" (named in reference to the James Taylor song in which he focused on desserts, puddings and cakes while visiting places from his culinary past that have inspired his recipes. Upcoming chef Will Torrent appeared as his assistant. The book "James Martin's Desserts" which accompanied the series was a best seller. James appeared on Blue Peter in April 2007 on "Can You Cook It?" being a celebrity judge choosing the new Blue Peter "Junior Chef", who was Jake Sawyers. In June and July 2007, he appeared co-hosting the 12 Yard series ""The Great British Village Show"" On BBC 1. He finished off the year with a series on UKTV Food called "James Martin's Christmas Feasts". He filmed a 30 part series for the BBC in 2007 called "Eating with the Enemy" which is due to be shown early this year. James Martin holds the world record for carrot chopping in which he peeled and chopped 515g of carrots in one minute, during a ready steady children in need special.
Personal Life
With a passion for performance cars - of which he currently owns an impressive collection he has now been given a weekly column as 'motor correspondent' for the Mail on Sunday's 'Live' magazine. He owns a Clumber Spaniel called Fudge.
James has an army of fans known in some circles as "The Marionettes". Some of these women are obsessives who worryingly seem to monitor his every move.
James has previously been linked to Alice Beer, Esther McVey, Barbara Broccoli, Claire Goose, Martine McCutcheon and Fearne Cotton