James Martin bid an emotional farewell to Saturday Kitchen on Saturday, marking the end of his 10-year tenure as host of the beloved BBC programme. The chef, who announced his departure in February, became visibly emotional as he thanked viewers and the BBC for their support during his final broadcast.
“It’s been a day I have been dreading,” Martin said. “But the thought of never having to taste a runny omelette again live on TV and setting the alarm at four o’clock in the morning does cheer me up a little.” The show featured a highlights reel of his best moments and a reprieve from the regular omelette challenge, alongside tributes from chefs Paul Ainsworth, Claude Bosi, Sat Bains, and Vivek Singh.
As a parting gift, Martin received a near life-size statue of a Friesian cow emblazoned with the Saturday Kitchen logo, a nod to his love of dairy. Social media erupted with tributes, with #SaturdayKitchen becoming the UK’s top Twitter trend during the 90-minute broadcast.
Martin ended the show with a heartfelt speech: “I’m going to miss these amazing guests – the world’s best chefs – and all of this crew here, all of which make the show what it is, and what it will continue to be. Your support has been amazing: never wavering, never faltering, despite my many mistakes.”
The BBC announced that a string of celebrity chefs will host the show going forward, with Michel Roux Jr first up on 2 April, followed by John Torode and Lorraine Pascale. Martin will continue to appear on Saturday Kitchen Best Bites on BBC Two on Sunday mornings.
