This British TV presenter and chef did not fall for fame. His rise to stardom was the result of a conscious pursuit of a dream. If you ask James Martin how his career started, he would trace the beginning of his passion for food back to when his father was appointed catering manager at the Castle Howard Estate located in North Yorkshire, England. Thereafter, he will point out that this passion intensifies at the age of 13 and that he undertakes a trip to the south of France where he discovers the good wine and the good food which make him swear to adapt his life as a professional cook.
Over the years, his career has evolved and seen him become a media personality. Today, Martin is not only known for being a trained and professional cook, but he is also admired for his television work with major media outlets like ITV and BBC.
As a TV presenter, he is probably most recognized for hosting the BBC cooking program he presented from 2006 to 2016, Saturday Kitchen, it’s no secret. James Martin.
Biography of James Martin
Even though many know that James Martin is a British chef and media personality, many are unaware that he was born in Malton, a trading town located in the North Riding of Yorkshire, England, and was born on June 30, 1972. Growing up in Castle Howard, James took an interest in cooking and its techniques while helping his mother in the kitchen.
After leaving Malton School he attended Scarborough Technical College where he studied catering before honing his skills as a chef under renowned chefs such as Marco Pierre White and Antony Worrall Thompson. Before settling in the Winchester’s hotel, the Bistro du Vin would be the chef. he was barely 22 when he achieved this feat.
It was in 1996 that James Martin began his television career with shows like The Big Breakfast, and the BBC’s Ready Steady Cook. James did other successful series which helped him land his big break as the presenter of Saturday Kitchen.
Beyond the facts you may have deduced from the above about the chef and TV presenter, there are more than a handful of other interesting things to know about Chef James to read and learn about…
5 interesting facts you need to know
1. He runs a bunch of restaurants
These include James Martin Manchester, which he opened in 2013, The Kitchen Cookery School in Chewton Glen and James Martin Kitchen, his upscale cafe located in Stansted and Glasgow Airport.
2. James Martins is also a writer
In this capacity, he wrote a motoring column for the British Conservative newspaper, The Mail on Sunday. That’s not all, his site (jamesmartinchef.co.uk) boasts of having written about twenty successful cookbooks. His autobiography, Driven: Cooking in the Fast Lane – My Story detailed how this Brit worked hard to become a successful TV chef and pretty much everything one could want to know about his life and career.
3. What is his net worth?
Although we couldn’t authenticate his estimated net worth of $5 million, it’s pretty obvious that James Martin has amassed a substantial fortune through his career as a chef and TV personality. James’s books and his support for an extensive kitchen appliance naturally added to his wealth.
4. Professional Achievements
Not to mention the restaurants he runs, the many books he has published, the television works he has undertaken, and the wealth he has derived from the various pursuits associated with him being a chef and media personality, the James’ career has also earned him several awards and prestigious recognition. In 2010, the University of West London made him an honorary professor. A few years later (in 2013) he received the special Craft Guild of Chefs award.
5. His love life
James has been dating his TV producer partner, Louise Davies, since 2011. The chef once hinted that he was happy with the way things were going between him and Louise, revealing that they had no plans to marry or become parents.
Bonus Facts: Besides food, James Martin is a big fan of planes, cars, and motorcycles. He receives training in how to fly helicopters and is very fond of dogs.