Celebrity chef James Martin left viewers touched during the latest episode of his ITV programme, Saturday Morning, as he unveiled a heartfelt tribute to his guest, baker Paul Cosgriff.
A Secret Sourdough Mission
Martin revealed to the audience that he had made a clandestine trip to Cosgriff and Sons bakery in York, disguising himself with a hat to avoid recognition. He joined the early morning queue, which often forms by 7:30 am, to secure one of the bakery's famed artisan sourdough loaves.
"I went wow, there's a reason why people are queueing up for this," the chef recalled after taking the bread home to share with his mother. So impressed was he that he decided to feature the bakery on his show, which aired on November 22.
From Adversity to a Thriving Bakery
During the programme, Paul Cosgriff joined via video link and shared the powerful story behind his business. The Australian-born former fine dining chef explained that the bakery was born from a period of immense personal challenge.
"I slipped over and broke my hip at work," Paul recounted. "It was all around the same time, I broke my hip, the pandemic happened and then my son was born eight weeks premature all in the space of a couple of months."
He further shared that after his son's birth, they discovered he had Down Syndrome and a hole in his heart. Faced with these hurdles, Paul sought to create something for himself and his family's future. "I'd always had a love of bread, and started baking it at home, then delivering it to people's doorsteps and that's where we started off," he said. From these humble beginnings, his bakery now produces an impressive 500 loaves per week.
A Culinary Homage and Heartfelt Praise
In a moving segment, James Martin created two varieties of sandwiches using Paul's sourdough, filled with crispy bacon and cheese as a direct homage to the baker. Presenting the finished dish, Martin said, "Hopefully I've done that justice Paul."
He then offered his enthusiastic support and praise, acknowledging the baker's difficult journey. "You've had a bit of a tough time but the product speaks for itself. What you're doing is amazing. I wish you all the very best of luck with it, I really do," Martin said, before summing up the interview by describing it as a "privilege" to have Paul on the show.
