Celebrity chef James Martin, known for his BBC Saturday Kitchen appearances, has achieved dreams like piloting helicopters and performing with his band, James Martin’s Midnight Ramblers. Yet his fame limits everyday outings.
His partner loves Greggs bacon sandwiches, prompting frequent stops. “My other half is obsessed now with Greggs bacon sandwiches,” Martin shared on the Quiet Coach podcast. “We now have to stop everywhere to get a Greggs bacon sandwich – but I went, ‘I can’t go in and get a Greggs!'”
He fears photos of a TV chef in line at the popular bakery chain would make headlines. Instead, the 53-year-old chef compared options from various spots to satisfy her craving. No clear winner emerged. “I said Pret won because it was properly buttered but she’s like, no, Greggs is hers, because the bacon was a little bit sweaty,” he noted. “She likes sweaty bacon. She does make the best bacon sandwiches in the world, but she’s just the taste tester, and so, Greggs it is.”
Relationship and Engagement
Martin has dated 39-year-old personal trainer Kim Johnson for over two years. After once vowing never to marry, he proposed late last year. Johnson showcased a £150,000 Land Rover Defender gift from the James Martin’s Saturday Morning host, along with her engagement ring, on Instagram, calling herself “speechless.”
In 2019, Martin stated: “Marriage doesn’t interest me in the slightest, mainly because I’ve catered for so many weddings. I admire people who do it, that’s fine, but I’m quite happy. I don’t need to spend 60 grand on a day, no, I’m more than happy thanks.”
Johnson has joined his kitchen adventures, completing a Richard Bertinet bread-making course. “She had a fantastic day and came back not only as a baker, but requesting I get a new electric mixer – so I did,” Martin revealed.
Early Struggles and Culinary Rise
Martin left school without qualifications, battling dyslexia. “I’m not proud of it but I used to hate Wednesdays,” he told podcaster Mark Wogan. “Wednesday was a spelling test. I’d be in tears on a Wednesday night, I’d have 20,000 words to write because I knew that I would get every single one of them wrong.”
He never read beyond primary school books and worked weekends while studying. Post-school, he gained London experience, trained at Hostellerie de Plaisance in Saint-Émilion, France, and worked at three-Michelin-star Maison Troisgros in Roanne.
Returning to England, he served as pastry chef at Chewton Glen Hotel, then became head chef at Hotel du Vin at 22. His TV career began with Ready Steady Cook, The Big Breakfast, and James Martin: Yorkshire’s Finest.
