James Martin’s heart races for cars over marriage or children

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James Martin’s passion for cars is as unique as the £5 million collection he owns, which he freely calls “weird” while reflecting on what fuels his fascination. The 52-year-old chef is known for gathering an array of iconic and classic vehicles, including a Subaru Impreza once raced by Colin McRae and a Mini Cooper driven by Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno Aaltonen. Yet, he confesses that his Toyota Hilux pickup is his top choice for everyday driving, explaining that he can “chuck everything” in its 435-litre boot.

During a conversation on the Good Food podcast with Samuel Goldsmith, James described his cars as “art,” saying, “Whether you collect anything, you see something as the Holy Grail, it’s that sort of stuff, but the car to me is like an aesthetic moving little bit of art. They’re just beautiful things. It’s weird, I’m not married, I’ve got no kids, my kids have got four wheels, that’s it, you’re either into them or you’re not. I’m not weirdly into them, so I don’t get a deckchair and sit in the middle of a field and talk about pistons and stuff like that, but there’s something about them.”

He reminisced about his early days, saying, “As a kid I used to peer through the window at Jack Barclay Showrooms in London when I was training as a chef thinking, ‘One day’.” His collection reportedly features a Bentley Continental, a Shelby Mustang, a Ferrari 275 GTB, and a Ferrari 288 GTO, though he prefers his Hilux and a BMW 760Li for regular use. Speaking to SL.Man, he shared, “I’ve got a Toyota Hilux pickup truck that I absolutely love – you can chuck everything in it and it will go forever. All my mates take the mick: ‘So you’ve got all these cars, but you drive around in a pick-up truck?'”

James, who is currently in a relationship with personal trainer Kim Johnson, has openly stated he has no plans to marry. In a candid chat with Sunday People, he said, “No, it doesn’t interest me in the slightest, mainly because I’ve catered for so many weddings, really. I admire people who do it, that’s fine, but I’m quite happy. I don’t need to spend 60 grand on a day, no, I’m more than happy thanks.”

Surrounded by friends with children, the television chef has spoken about the sacrifices his high-energy career has demanded. In a 2020 interview with Prima magazine, he admitted, “The biggest low of my career is that I’ve given up everything for it. The level of commitment it requires and the choices you have to make have a huge impact.” James Martin’s Saturday Morning returns at 9.30am on ITV One, with Julia Bradbury joining him at his Hampshire home, Lisa Goodwin-Allen and Judy Joo serving food, and Merlin Griffiths from First Dates mixing cocktails.