Renowned television chef James Martin has opened up about a terrifying incident that occurred during filming of his popular ITV programme, revealing he genuinely feared he might have fatally harmed a celebrity guest.
The Moment of Panic on Live Television
During a recent appearance on LNER's Routes podcast with presenter Jenni Falconer, Martin recounted the alarming episode that unfolded on James Martin's Saturday Morning. The 53-year-old culinary star described the sheer panic that gripped him when Falconer, 49, began choking on a substantial portion of chicken parmigiana he had prepared.
'I Thought I'd Killed My First Guest'
'Your face just went white,' Martin recalled telling Falconer during their podcast conversation. 'I thought, what do I do? What do I do? I was thinking, 'Do I perform the Heimlich manoeuvre? What do I do?' and I'm thinking, I'm panicking.'
Falconer herself remembered the frightening moment with vivid clarity, explaining she had attempted to eat an overly large piece of the delicious dish. 'I was like, okay, I've got to just eat this now, but it's too big but I'll be fine. And then I choked,' she confessed. 'I was like I can't breathe. It was so awful.'
Martin initially believed Falconer might be joking before realising the severity of the situation. Looking back with relief that the incident ended without tragedy, the chef quipped: 'I thought the first and only guest I've killed on the show is going to be you.'
From Near-Disaster to Culinary Heaven
Beyond discussing the choking scare, the conversation between Martin and Falconer turned to more pleasant culinary territory, specifically addressing one of Britain's most beloved dishes.
The Search for Perfect Fish and Chips
When asked about the best location for fish and chips in the United Kingdom, the Yorkshire-born chef didn't hesitate with his recommendation. For Martin, the ultimate experience can be found at the Magpie Café in Whitby, North Yorkshire, which he described as representing both 'the pinnacle' and 'nirvana' of this classic British meal.
Martin detailed his perfect fish and chips order with enthusiastic precision:
- A large haddock
- Mushy peas
- Lemon wedge
- Tartar sauce
- Sarson's vinegar
- Salt
'You sit there and the wind's howling a gale,' Martin painted the atmospheric scene. 'You open up this pot of gold, and then there's just smell as this steam comes up, it hits your nose. The wind howling, but as this steam hits your nose, a little drip of snot drips onto your fish and then you're in nirvana, heaven.'
Return to Saturday Morning Television
Despite the occasional on-air scare, Martin continues to helm his popular culinary programme. James Martin's Saturday Morning returns to ITV screens today at 9:30am, offering viewers more cooking demonstrations, celebrity interviews, and undoubtedly some delicious recipes – though perhaps with advice about appropriate portion sizes.
The chef's candid revelation about the choking incident provides a rare glimpse behind the scenes of live television production, where even experienced professionals can face unexpected emergencies. Meanwhile, his passionate endorsement of Whitby's Magpie Café will likely inspire many food enthusiasts to make the pilgrimage to the North Yorkshire coast in search of their own fish and chips nirvana.
