Saturday Morning host James Martin saved by TV boss after living on sofa
James Martin revealed that he had no money before he found fame on the small screen and could not afford a home to live in after he stayed on a hotel sofa for six months.
James Martin opened up about his life before television and the gruelling hours he once worked. When he first started at Chewton Glen, the now 51-year-old was given a career lifeline by a producer who helped him achieve the fame and fortune he has today.
The ITV star who now hosts his show Saturday Morning once lived on a sofa and put in ridiculous hours where he did not even see daylight. In an interview with Mark Wogan, the chef said he "couldn't afford" a home to live in and was strapped for cash.
Which seems crazy after the star now has a sprawling mansion and a lavish car collection. He said on the podcast Spooning with Mark Wogan: “I couldn't afford a house, I used to sleep on the sofa of the hotel.
Before adding: "I had no money, nothing. This was before cars, I lived on the sofa for six months." But it all quickly turned around when he was approached by a TV producer who saw a spark in the youngster.
Looking back he was heard saying at 21 he felt he "had a point to prove" so went above and beyond. Speaking of the prestigious hotel he worked for the chef explained they were "fully booked for ten weeks, you could not get in".
He revealed that he would refuse people entry who did not have a pre-booked reservation after being full.
Claiming that the likes of Shirley Bassey turned up but he could not accommodate the singer after being jam-packed.
James recalled the special moment when his talents were spotted when a group of renowned chefs turned up.
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He said: "Lloyd Grossman, Rick Stein and Keith Floyd came in with a lady named Mary Ramsay who was a producer at the time."
Despite not having a table, James refused to turn them away and sat them at the bar before cooking up a storm.
At the end of the night, he headed to where they were sitting and said that he had come through wearing his trademark bandana and long hair when he was given a card.
The TV personality said: “This lady gave me a card and said I am Mary Ramsay I am producing this series a new idea of a cooking format show, are you on television, do you have an agent?” To which he replied: “I can’t afford a house I used to sleep on the sofa of the hotel. I had no money, nothing. This was before cars, I lived on the sofa for six months.
At the time he said a car arrived to pick him up at 7am after he had finished work hours before at 3am. But he had warned her that he needed to be back to prepare the lunchtime service.
He was told to cook something while being filmed and returned to work. That day he was offered the TV gig and never looked back.