James Martin is known for his no-nonsense approach, both inside the kitchen and out of it.
Friends have often described Martin as someone happiest when immersed in his work, which over the years has involved early mornings on hit TV show Saturday Kitchen, globe-trotting filming schedules in France and other hotspots, recipe developing and even fronting his own weekend show on ITV.
Cars, cooking, and countryside living have long taken precedence, with the chef once joking that the vehicles he kept in his garage were his ‘babies’.
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That self-sufficiency was echoed in interviews, particularly when the subject of marriage came up.
In 2019, as noted by The Sun, Martin was characteristically blunt about the prospect, saying: “Marriage doesn’t interest me in the slightest, mainly because I’ve catered for so many weddings, really.
"I admire people who do it, that’s fine, but I’m quite happy. I don’t need to spend £60,000 on a day, no, I’m more than happy, thanks.”
For someone so clear in his convictions, the past two years have marked a quieter but notable shift. After ending a 12-year relationship with Louise Davies in late 2023, Martin’s personal life entered a new chapter. In March 2024, he was first spotted with personal trainer Kim Johnson, with the pair keeping things relatively low-key despite growing public interest.
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Their relationship developed steadily. Friends noted changes in Martin’s outlook, from his fitness (he is reported to have lost three stone) to his general happiness. Johnson moved into his Hampshire home in October, a sign that the relationship had become more than just a brief romance.
Now, less than two years after they began dating, Martin, 53, is engaged to Johnson, 39, marking a significant U-turn on his long-held views about marriage. According to those close to the couple, talking to the Sun via the same report, he has already popped the question and reportedly celebrated the engagement with a lavish gift: a top-of-the-range Land Rover Defender.
A source close to the pair said: “James and Kim may have been dating for less than two years, but when you know, you know. Of course, it’s taken James decades to finally get there and friends do share a wry smile that he’s U-turned on his staunch refusal to ever marry. But everyone has seen the change in him since meeting Kim and he’s never been happier.”
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Johnson was previously married to businessman Arun Nayar, while Martin has never married and has no children.
FOODbible has reached out to James Martin’s management team for comment.
Ben Williams