James Martin recalls reducing mum 'to tears' over major career decision

Celebrity chef James Martin has given fans a glimpse into his personal life, discussing how his family has reacted to his fame.

Known for his culinary expertise on BBC's Saturday Kitchen and ITV's Saturday Morning with James Martin, James credits his success to the support of his family, who have kept him grounded despite his celebrity status.

Growing up on the Castle Howard estate in a family of farmers, James was inspired by his mother's cooking, which led him to pursue a career as a chef.

During a podcast last year, the 51-year-old praised his family's unwavering support, even revealing that his dedication once moved his mother to tears.

When asked about how his family deals with his public life, he said: "They're still grounded, they're still the same people." He also appreciates their candid feedback, often pointing out when his "hair is a mess" or when his "shoes don't match" his outfit on TV.

James values such honesty over insincere flattery, stating: "You're just the same as you were when you were a kid. All you can be, in terms of what I can be, is better than you were yesterday. And that's all you strive to be, that's the ethos that I've always had and my family have always been honest."

James revealed it was his crowning moment to purchase a house for his mum, being able to share this accomplishment with his family.

"You wouldn't have dreamed about that when I was a young kid working in London when my mum used to visit me and cry her eyes out and say, 'What are you doing working 19 hours a day? '".

"She'd sit and cry her eyes out but you stick at it, not because you wanted to do it financially or because it becomes Instagrammable or Twitter and all that sort of stuff, you stick at it because it was the job you love," he eloquently stated during an episode of The Travel Diaries podcast.

James honed his culinary skills at Hostellerie De Plaisance, Saint-Emilion in France, progressing to the prestigious three-star-Michelin restaurant Maison Troisgros in Roanne before landing in London to ply his trade in several restaurants.

The comic slammed James Martin's lasagne

His first TV spell came towards the close of the nineties on programmes such as James Martin: Yorkshire's Finest, Ready Steady Cook and The Big Breakfast.

Further exposure on telly led him to host his own BBC programme, Saturday Kitchen.

After a decade in the BBC spotlight, he decided to transition to ITV with his current offering, James Martin's Saturday Morning.

Although the public can recount numerous parts of his career journey, James likes to maintain a private personal life, occasionally touching upon aspects concerning people closest to him.

Back in 2020, the celebrity chef opened up to Prima Magazine about "the biggest low" of his career, admitting he had "given up everything for it", including the chance to have children.

He reflected on how his life differed from his friends', saying that while they had families, his own choices were always driven by his demanding career.

"I look at my mates and they're all married with kids, and that's not the case for me because I've been so focused on work. The level of commitment it requires and the choices you have to make have a huge impact," he confessed.

At that time, James was with Louise Davies, but the couple parted ways last year. He has since started dating Kim Johnson, who was previously married to the wealthy Arun Nayar.