Actors Will Mellor and Ralf Little, who appeared on James Martin’s Saturday Morning show, have offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the celebrity chef’s personal life and opulent lifestyle.
An Unexpected Glimpse Behind the Scenes
During filming for an episode last year, Mellor and Little found themselves not only discussing their current projects and sampling Martin’s culinary creations but also experiencing an unexpected side of the chef during a tour of his home, where the program is taped.
Recounting his initial impressions, Will Mellor described Martin’s residence as a “lovely place.” However, what the guests referred to as the “green room” proved to be far beyond their usual expectations. Instead of a typical waiting area, they discovered a space equipped with a pool table, arcade machine, guitars, and an impressive collection of memorabilia. Adding to the extravagance, the room also housed two or three Ferraris and an antique Bentley.
A Collector’s Dream
Mellor shared his astonishment at Martin’s extensive collection, particularly one of his vehicles. “This man is a collector, and one of his cars, I asked him and I said, ‘Am I alright to tell people?’ and he said ‘No problem’, he bought a car, I think it was a Ferrari, for £500,000, it’s now worth 16 or 17 million,” Mellor revealed. He added, “He had this collection, he’s showing us around and I’m going, ‘I just thought he cooked up some food’, unbelievable.”
Ralf Little described the 53-year-old chef as “a great man.” Mellor echoed this sentiment on their podcast, stating, “He’s a great guy, a really top guy.”
Genuine Hospitality, Not Ostentation
Little further elaborated on Martin’s demeanor when showcasing his possessions. “He was really sound and when he was showing us all that stuff it wasn’t like… you know some people like to show you their stuff and it can feel a bit like ‘Alright mate, turn it in’, and they’re being a bit showing off, but he didn’t have that at all. He was like, ‘If you’re interested, you can have a look’ and we were like, ‘Of course are!'”
A Hustler’s Journey to Success
During their off-camera conversations, the actors learned about Martin’s path to success. “There were little bits that he was telling us, which isn’t for public consumption, but about like what a smart businessman he is,” Ralf shared. He recounted Martin’s story of arriving in London in the early 2000s with only £20. “He said he turned up in London in the early 2000s with £20 to his name, literally £20 in his pocket and he’s hustled and invested and taken chances and just gone I’m just going to go for it,” Ralf added.
Concluding his thoughts, Will Mellor ed his high regard for James Martin, stating, “We really liked him, we had a good laugh.” He also mentioned that the chef gifted them some wine.
These insights follow positive remarks from chef Tom Kerridge, who previously spoke about Martin’s strengths on another podcast. Kerridge highlighted Martin’s exceptional ability to perform live, engage in conversation, listen, and cook simultaneously, calling him “a really good cook as well.”
James Martin’s Saturday Morning airs weekly on ITV and ITVX.
