TV chef James Martin, 53, is reportedly engaged to personal trainer Kim Johnson, 39, despite previously ruling out marriage. The couple are said to have become engaged over the Christmas period, with James gifting Kim a £150,000 Land Rover as an engagement present. Kim appeared to confirm the news on Instagram, referring to James as her 'fiancé' in a post.
James had long stated he had no interest in marriage, telling the Sunday People in 2019: 'Marriage doesn't interest me in the slightest... I don't need to spend 60 grand on a day.' He was in a 12-year relationship with TV producer Louise Davies until December 2023, but they never married.
James has also faced family heartbreak, including a rift with his father Ian. In 2008, he fell out with his dad after writing unflattering remarks about his former stepmother in his autobiography. James later called the book his 'biggest regret' and said he had accepted he would never speak to his father again.
However, James recently revealed he had made progress in healing the rift. In an interview with Candis magazine, he described seeing his father in the audience of a live show nearly a decade ago, saying: 'I looked into the audience and the first face I saw was my dad's... I completely lost it. The farmer's kid had made it.'
James has not publicly confirmed the engagement, but the news marks a significant U-turn on his previous views on marriage.
