James Martin

With a no-nonsense, traditional approach, James Martin has scored a huge hit as a TV chef who tempts the palates of his audiences with good quality, honest food. He first made his mark in 1996 hosting James Martin: Yorkshire's Finest, followed by Ready Steady Cook and The Big Breakfast, and has hardly been out of the TV kitchen since! More recently, he hosted the highly popular BBC cookery series Saturday Kitchen (from 2006 until 2016), attracting in excess of 3.5 million viewers.

Other successful UK television series featuring James' culinary delights include three series of Operation Hospital Food (BBC1), Sweet Baby James and Eating With The Enemy. He was also a judge on Junior Bake Off series 2. His most recent work includes Operation Meet the Street, Home Comforts, The Box and More Home Comforts (all for BBC1).

In 2013, James was honoured with The Craft Guild of Chefs Special Award for Outstanding Contribution To The Industry. His series Food Map of Britain won the Royal Television Society's Best Daytime and Early Peak Programme in March 2014. In 2015, he was named TV Personality of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason Awards, with Saturday Kitchen winning Best Food Programme at the TV Choice Awards.

James has opened a number of his own restaurants in recent years, notably The Talbot, in Malton, North Yorkshire, which was placed in the Michelin Guide in 2012.

A keen journalist and car enthusiast, James has had a weekly column on motoring in the Mail On Sunday’s Live Magazine, as well as food columns for the BBC's Good Food Magazine and Sky magazine. He is also the author of 18 best-selling and award winning cookbooks, as well as his autobiography Driven: Cooking in the Fast Lane - My Story.

In 2008, James was featured in the prime time special The Real Italian Job (BBC2), in which he lived his dream of racing a vintage sports car in the exclusive Mille Miglia route in Italy. Always up for a bit of fun, James also reached the semi-finals of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing back in 2006.

James also recently toured around the UK with his first live show, entitled Plates, Mates and Automobiles.

James’ drive and enthusiasm for food and cars combine with his warmth and charm as a Presenter to make him an ideal choice as an After-dinner Speaker, Awards/Events Host or Presenter. To book him, contact Prime Performers for more information, either through our online booking enquiry form or by calling us on 020 3500 3331.