Television Career
He first started to appear on television in 1996 with various programmes including "James Martin: Yorkshire's Finest" (set in various Yorkshire locations with an emphasis on Yorkshire cuisine) but came to wider public attention on the BBC 2 programme Ready Steady Cook. In 2005 Martin was partnered with Camilla Dallerup in Strictly Come Dancing, a celebrity ballroom dancing TV show, coming fourth.
Martin co-presented BBC Food's "Stately Suppers" with Alistair Appleton, and then appeared on the Channel 4 programme Richard & Judy, where he would visit a member of the public in their own home who had been nominated to be cooked a 'comfort food' meal. He is now the presenter of the new version of the BBC 1 show Saturday Kitchen, which is being made by Cactus TV, the company behind the "Richard & Judy" show.
In 2007 he starred in a BBC 2 series named Sweet Baby James (named in reference to the James Taylor song) in which he focused on desserts, puddings and cakes while visiting places from his culinary past that have inspired his recipes. Upcoming chef Will Torrent appeared as his assistant.
Martin appeared on Blue Peter in April 2007 on Can You Cook It? being a celebrity judge choosing the new Blue Peter "Junior Chef".
In June and July 2007, he appeared co-hosting the 12 Yard series The Great British Village Show on BBC 1. He finished off the year with a series on UKTV Food called James Martin's Christmas Feasts.
He filmed a 30 part series for the BBC in 2007 called Eating with the Enemy which was held back for a year before finally being broadcast in July and August 2008.
James Martin holds the world record for carrot chopping in which he peeled and chopped 515g of carrots in one minute, during a Ready Steady Cook Children in Need Special.
In September 2011, James was tasked with revamping the menu and catering facilities at Scarborough General Hospital, the programme being titled, Operation Hospital Food and shown on BBC TV. The show was well received and a restaurant was renamed 'Pat's Place', in honour of the Catering Manager who had worked there for 21 years.
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