A chef who has worked alongside James Martin has shared what the television personality is truly like when the cameras stop rolling. Edmond Veizaj, who runs an award-winning steakhouse in Hampshire, recounted his experiences cooking with Martin at various food festivals across the country.
Professional and Personable
Speaking to Great British Life, Veizaj said: "I used to cook at a lot of food festivals with James Martin and he was always great to cook alongside and was very professional." He emphasised that Martin showed his true colours in an instant, proving to be both skilled and amiable in the kitchen.
Martin, 53, has been a staple on British television since the 1990s, appearing on shows such as Ready Steady Cook and Big Breakfast. He later presented Saturday Kitchen on the BBC for a decade and now fronts James Martin’s Saturday Morning on ITV. His culinary journey began in France, where he trained at the Hostellerie De Plaisance in Saint-Émilion and later at the three Michelin star restaurant Maison Troisgros in Roanne before returning to England.
Other Colleagues' Praise
Veizaj is not alone in his positive assessment. Brothers Rob and David Nicholson from Cannon Hall Farm in Yorkshire appeared on Martin’s show in 2025 and described him as a "walking advert for the dairy industry" due to his generous use of butter. However, they had nothing but praise for his character. Dave remarked: "Wasn't he a gentleman? He gave us so much time to talk about the farm... He wasn't like, 'Anyway lads'. All the other chefs were cooking away and I thought he really, really looked after us."
Rob Nicholson described their visit to Martin's Hampshire residence as a "10 out of 10 experience", adding: "From first to last, 10 out of 10. A really memorable experience, really enjoyed it."
Fellow celebrity chef Tom Kerridge also spoke highly of Martin on Red Richardson’s podcast, saying: "Everyone who does cooking on television has got their own different skill set for different reasons. Like James Martin is so good live and he's brilliant at that, holding a conversation, listening and cooking. He's a really good cook as well."
Upcoming Show
James Martin’s Saturday Morning returns to screens at 9.30am on ITV One. Martin will be joined at his Hampshire home by actress Kelly Brook, chefs Tommy Banks and Alex Dilling, and forager Alysia Vasey.
