TV chef James Martin, 53, is reportedly engaged to personal trainer Kim Johnson, 39, despite previously stating he had no interest in marriage. The engagement is said to have taken place over the Christmas period, with Martin gifting Johnson a £150,000 Land Rover as a present. Johnson appeared to confirm the news on Instagram, referring to Martin as her 'fiancé'.
Martin had been in a 12-year relationship with TV producer Louise Davies until December 2023, but never married her. In 2019, he told the Sunday People: 'Marriage doesn't interest me in the slightest... I don't need to spend 60 grand on a day.' He previously dated James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.
The chef has also experienced a bitter family rift with his father, Ian. In 2008, Martin fell out with his father after making derogatory comments about his step-mother in his autobiography, which he later described as his 'biggest regret'. The original edition was withdrawn after Martin admitted the claims were untrue.
Martin said both he and his father were 'too stubborn' to reconcile, and he accepted they would never speak again. However, in a recent interview with Candis magazine, Martin revealed that he had made progress in healing the rift. He described a poignant moment nearly a decade ago when he surprised his father by bringing him to a live show at the London Palladium.
Martin recalled: 'I got him a night at the Ritz... I took him backstage at the Palladium. He couldn't believe his son's name was in lights.' He added that seeing his father in the audience moved him to tears: 'I completely lost it. The farmer's kid had made it.'
Martin has not publicly confirmed the engagement, but has previously spoken about his regrets over not having children, citing his focus on work as the reason.
