Celebrity chef James Martin has stunned fans by reportedly proposing to his girlfriend, personal trainer Kim Johnson, marking a dramatic U-turn on his long-held vow never to get married.
From 'Never Marrying' to a Christmas Proposal
The 53-year-old TV chef, who rose to fame on Ready Steady Cook, had been adamant that marriage was not for him. In a 2019 interview, the Yorkshire-born star declared he didn't "need to spend 60 grand on a day" and that the institution didn't interest him "in the slightest".
However, it appears love has changed his mind. His new partner, 39-year-old Kim Johnson, seemingly confirmed the news on social media with a post referring to Martin as her "fiancé". Reports suggest the Christmas proposal was followed by a lavish £150,000 Land Rover as an engagement gift.
A Rocky Road to Romance
This engagement follows what has been a tumultuous love life for the culinary star. His most recent relationship was with TV producer Louise Davies, whom he met in 2012 while filming Celebrity Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?. The pair split amicably in 2024 after 12 years together, with some speculating his stance on marriage may have been a factor.
Prior to that, Martin had a headline-grabbing, four-and-a-half-year relationship with James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, who is 12 years his senior. They met in 2001 after she paid £18,000 for him to cook at a charity auction. In his autobiography, he called her his "first real love", though he noted an "imbalance" in their dynamic, highlighted when she once offered to buy him a £180,000 Aston Martin.
Kitchen Disasters and Short-Lived Dates
Martin's romantic history even includes a culinary misadventure that doomed an early date. He once confessed that, 30 years ago, a late finish at work as a pastry chef left him without ingredients for a promised meal.
In a moment of panic, he improvised a version of Coq au vin using leftover jus from work, some "manky" bacon, mushrooms, and—in a true act of desperation—KFC chicken. The date, unsurprisingly, did not last long after that experimental dish.
Insiders suggest his romance with Kim Johnson, who was previously married to Liz Hurley's millionaire ex Arun Nayar, has transformed him. A source stated, "He’s a changed man now he’s met her," adding that the engagement could be "very hard" for his ex-partner Louise Davies to witness.
As the culinary world digests this surprise engagement, all eyes are now on whether the chef who never wanted a wedding will finally walk down the aisle.
