ITV's Saturday Morning host James Martin found himself in a spot of bother with his production team during a live broadcast, leading to a hilarious on-air confession. The incident occurred as the affable presenter was putting his esteemed guests, including legendary French chef Raymond Blanc, through their paces with a tricky culinary quiz.
The Tense Culinary Quiz
During the show that aired on 29th November, the atmosphere in the kitchen turned from jovial to slightly tense. James Martin and chef Tom Shepherd were demonstrating how to make a classic seared sirloin steak with chips and a freshly prepared Béarnaise sauce. As they worked on the Béarnaise—a Hollandaise sauce enriched with tarragon—Martin decided to test the culinary knowledge of his guests.
He first turned to Tom Shepherd, asking, "You add a little bit of tomato purée, which turns it into...?" Shepherd let out a weary sigh and admitted he didn't know the answer. Both Martin and Raymond Blanc quickly revealed that the correct term is Sauce Choron.
Not content to stop there, the host then probed further, asking the celebrated French chef what the sauce becomes when mint is added. "No, no, I don't use mint," Raymond acknowledged, with Martin confirming, "Mint is paloise, no?"
'For God's Sake!' - Blanc's Exasperated Reaction
The guests' patience began to wear thin, especially when James Martin moved on to another variation involving blood orange. He explained that adding the juice transforms Hollandaise into Sauce Maltaise, quipping, "I'm testing the Frenchman!"
This proved to be the final straw for Raymond Blanc, who was still focused on the earlier question about mint. He scolded the host, exclaiming, "I don't add mint to my Béarnaise, for God's sake!" The French chef also confessed that he couldn't recall what the combination of blood orange and Hollandaise created, adding to the comedic tension of the segment.
The Producer's Timely Intervention
It seems the Saturday Morning production team was growing concerned that the culinary quiz was derailing the cooking demonstration. Through his earpiece, James Martin received a subtle but clear warning from the producers to get back on track.
The host was then forced to quickly backtrack and address the situation directly on camera. Looking slightly chastised, he informed both his guests and the viewing audience, "You can stop telling me in my ear now, I'm only joking!"
The moment provided a light-hearted glimpse behind the scenes of live television, showing how producers work to keep broadcasts running smoothly. The show, which also featured Death in Paradise star Ardal O'Hanlon and gardening expert David Domoney, continued without further interruption. James Martin's Saturday Morning airs from 9:30am on ITV1 and ITVX.
