James Martin Opens Up About Father's Lack of Affection and Brutal Note
TV chef James Martin has made a poignant admission about his father, revealing that he "would never give me a hug" and shared details of a brutal note left before a reported reconciliation after a long estrangement. The 53-year-old, one of the UK's most renowned chefs, has previously spoken candidly about his sometimes difficult relationship with his dad, Ian.
A Painful Departure at Age 16
Speaking to the Routes podcast, Martin recounted leaving his family home in Yorkshire to start work in London at just 16 years old. He described being dropped off at York station by his parents and sister, finishing school on a Friday and beginning work the following Monday. On that Sunday night, he shook his father's hand instead of receiving a hug, a moment that encapsulated their strained dynamic.
"There was a rolled up note in there and I thought it was a cheque, no, it was £20," Martin said. "I can't tell you what he actually put on the note but it was the F word, I'll see you in two years. That's what it was." He promptly spent half of the £20 on a taxi from the station to the restaurant that had hired him, only to find the chef who employed him had no idea who he was.
Years of Bitter Estrangement and Reconciliation
The relationship deteriorated further after Martin's 2008 autobiography, Driven, included scathing passages about his then-stepmother, Sarah Briggs. He described her as "the ugliest woman I have ever met" and claimed she burned his childhood toys. Briggs sued for libel, leading to the book being pulped and re-edited. Martin once stated that "the only good thing" from the legal action was "the realisation I would never speak to my father again," and he cut off contact with Ian.
However, with Martin now set to marry partner Kim Johnson, reports suggest a family reconciliation has occurred. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ian described his son as "as good as ever" and asserted, "There's no estrangement." A family friend added, "It’s been a long road, but James's stance has softened with time. The pair of them have slowly rebuilt bridges over the past couple of years. Now they’re able to look forward rather than dwell on the past."
Contrasting Family Dynamics
In contrast to his relationship with his father, Martin has always remained close to his mother, Sue, whom he turns to for advice. He also shared another anecdote from his childhood, revealing that during school summer holidays, his dad would drop him off at a vineyard in France for five or six weeks while importing wine back to the UK. "My mum would be thinking I would be travelling around France with my dad, no, my dad would drop me off at a vineyard and leave me there," he explained.
James Martin's Saturday Morning airs today (February 14) from 9.30am to 12pm on ITV, featuring guests like former Wet Wet Wet star Marti Pellow. This revelation adds a deeply personal layer to the public persona of the beloved chef, highlighting themes of family conflict, forgiveness, and healing.
