James Martin announces new items for his website
The TV chef returns to screens today as part of his flagship ITV show James Martin’s Saturday Morning, which this week features chefs Richard Bertinet and Richard Corrigan, as well as presenter Charlotte Hawkins. The 48-year-old has enjoyed a stellar career that saw him make his name on the BBC’s Ready Steady Cook, before he fronted the broadcaster’s Saturday Kitchen. For 10 years he delighted viewers until he quit the BBC in 2016, before moving over to ITV where he now fronts much of its cooking coverage.
Yet, in the aftermath of his exit James made the sensational claim that he had been turned down “for two jobs” as a result of his accent.
The Yorkshireman’s comments came as the broadcaster was embroiled in a similar dispute with its then-BBC Breakfast presenter Steph McGovern, who said the corporation paid working-class people less than posh employees on the payroll.
According to the Daily Mail, James’ remark had nothing to do with his split from the BBC, but was an observation on the broadcaster as a whole.
After leaving the BBC, James said in 2018 his accent was a factor in him not getting jobs, although he was unable to confirm what roles they were.
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He explained the incidents happened “before my move to ITV… it happened two years ago”.
The chef admitted bosses on the shows said he didn’t get the job “because of my accent”, before adding: “That’s not the reason I left.
“But you’d be wrong if you said they don’t discriminate against people because of their accents.”
James’ position became untenable after producers on Saturday Kitchen made the move to shaft live audiences in a bid to cut the programme’s budget.
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The BBC defended its position, arguing that it had a “huge variety of presenters with different accents and from different backgrounds”.
It said that the wide range of programmes, including Kitchen Invaders, The Real Italian Job and Home Comforts, James presented “shows that we have no problem with his accent”.
The decision to leave Saturday Kitchen stunned viewers, who warmed to the chef after he took over from former host Antony Worrall Thompson in 2006.
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A year after his BBC split, James told ITV’s Good Morning Britain (GMB) the driving force behind his decision to leave came after someone took to a stage and “passed away in front of me”.
Reports show the man was believed to have been a singer who had performed at the BBC Good Food Middle East Awards in 2015.
James had been attending the event in the United Arab Emirates, and told GMB that after witnessing the man’s death he “made a decision to change”.
He added: “I looked back at all the work I’d done – four days off that year and five the year before and I thought something’s got to change.”
Yet, in another twist, a source close to the BBC claimed that James made the move away from the broadcaster after he was snubbed for a presenting role on Top Gear.
James had been keen to join then-host Chris Evans for the revamped show in 2016, but a Daily Mirror report said he was left frustrated after being overlooked by producers.
The motor show films at weekends, which producers claimed would have affected his ability to continue in his role on Saturday Kitchen, an insider said.
A source added: “Although James played down joining the show there was no doubt he fancied it. But BBC executives blocked the move. They felt he was best suited to Saturday Kitchen.
“Also filming commitments for Top Gear are often over weekends which would clash with the show.
“Their view was ‘if it isn’t broke, why fix it?’”
James Martin’s Saturday Morning airs at 9.30am today on ITV.
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