Celebrity chef James Martin has confessed to always being the “odd one out” after making a family decision.
Speaking to Candis Magazine, James explained why, at 52, he remains childless. He said: “A lot of people work hard, settle down, have two kids, and then retire. I admire that. But it’s just not me.”
He’s openly discussed his reasons for prioritising his career over family, revealing his long-term relationship with ex Louise Davies never led to children because he was “so focused on work.”
James is, though, on record as saying that making that choice was the “biggest low” of his life. Now 52, James Martin continues full-throttle, admitting: “I can’t switch off and watch TV and I’ve never read a book.”
He has myriad business interests, including the Lygon Arms pub in the idyllic Cotswolds village of Broadway, starting his own cookery school, and creating a wine brand – but that’s not all. The star has taken to the skies, earning his wings to pilot both airplanes and helicopters.
This relentless activity comes from a lifetime of high energy, which he alludes to with a childhood memory: “At school, as mum will tell you, I was always the odd one out.”
Despite more than a few health scares, Martin is far from considering retirement, living life “at a hundred miles an hour”.
James was diagnosed with facial skin cancer in 2018, which led to him undergoing a series of surgical procedures. The cancer “returned on several occasions” and necessitated additional treatment.
The pain from his cancer could often be debilitating, and he described the time following his diagnosis as “one of the most fraught and difficult periods of my life”. James also revealed that the cancer diagnosis had him planning his own funeral.