ITV chef James Martin shares struggles with TV bosses over dream job

James Martin
-Credit: (Image: (Image: ITV))


James Martin has cheekily suggested he might need to "pay someone a backhander" to realise his dream ITV travel show focused on Japan, following some resistance from channel executives regarding the destination choice. The renowned chef, who has two restaurants in the Cotswolds, hinted at his desire for a series set in the Land of the Rising Sun to explore its gastronomy and heritage.

The culinary virtuoso, 52, confessed that Japan has long been "on his list" but obligations and the pandemic thwarted his trips there. Presenting his idea to the network heads, he ultimately found himself producing 'James Martin's Spanish Adventure'.

The host of 'Saturday Morning', who has previously taken television viewers through France, The Highlands, and the United States, expressed on 'The Travel Diaries' podcast with Holly Rubenstein last year, his persistent yearning to travel to Japan.

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"I'd love to go to Japan, it's on my list. I've been close, been close with work, then Covid hit, and I couldn't make the gig and I keep saying to ITV that a travelogue thing to Japan would be amazing, and they said, 'we'll do Spain again'... 'alright, okay'," he shared, clearly disheartened by the compromise.

Additionally, Martin remarked, "I really want to do it and I'm doing Spain in a similar sort of guise really. France, I know, America, I know, and that kind of stuff, and Spain is my next adventure.", reports the Daily Record.

"I don't know a thing about Spain. I know the quality of the olive oils and the hams and that sort of stuff, I'm just going around like a Brit foodie saying, 'feed me'. I think Japan would be the same sort of thing. I just want to parachute myself in there and almost go 'what on earth is this? '".

"You want to be walking around a market going, 'what is that? Isn't that amazing,' I'd love to do that. The people are amazing."

James continued by expressing his envy towards anyone who had visited Japan. Holly responded: "Maybe next year when I see you on the TV driving though Japan, I'll be thinking, aww."

The TV chef humorously replied: "If you do, you'll know I've paid someone a backhander or something like that. I'd love to, but we'll stick to what we know first of all but Japan and Japanese cuisine is definitely on the list."

The Lygon Arms in Broadway has two restaurants from ITV chef James Martin. Tavern aims for a pub vibe with a cosy atmosphere and an array of nibbles and Grill with its vaulted ceiling and range of dishes is for a more formal occasion.