James Martin ‘happily dating’ after revealing witnessing shock death prompted a life re-think
The TV chef is now focusing on matters of the heart
CHEF James Martin has confessed witnessing a shock death prompted him to shun the stresses of Saturday Kitchen and focus on his love life.
The culinary whizz, who is now "happily dating", left telly fans devastated after quitting his presenting stint on the BBC show after 10 years this year.
After previously being hugely protective of his private life and romances, fans are now aware of a new love in his life.
Talking of his milestone decision to focus on himself he said: "At an awards ceremony in Dubai last year, a bloke on the stage dropped dead, eight feet away from me.
"He was my age, and had a similar job.
"At that moment, I decided my career had to change."
He added: "I had just two days off last year and my schedule was getting tough."
Despite revealing he was super chuffed with his new love, the Yorkshireman didn't go as far as to disclose her identity.
In the past, he has been seen with a handful of high profile women on his arm including FHM model Claire Goose and American Barbara Broccoli, who he split with in 2005.
Most recently he was dating TV producer Louise Davies.
Barbara, 56, is best known for her work producing the iconic James Bond films.
The pair were together for four and a half years yet James has remained tight-lipped on his romances ever since.
Talking about their split at the time - after which he dated Miss England Sally Kettle -: "To walk away from someone you love and who loves you that much is hard.
"Maybe it was the daftest thing I have done in my life but it was probably the most sensible, too. In the end I think it was for the best, not just for Barbara and me but also for her children."
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Talking of the impact of his TV work on his private life he told : "It wasn't just Saturday mornings.
"I was having to give up Friday nights in my restaurant - a big ask for any chef - because I'd have to be in bed by 8pm in order to leave at 3am on Saturday morning to get to London in time for the show."
Yet die-hard fans of the traditional foodie still get to see him on-screen as a Friday guest presenter on ITV daytime show This Morning.
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