James Martin has quit his role as host of ‘Saturday Kitchen’.
The TV chef is stepping down from the hit weekend cookery show, after 10 years at the helm.
James Martin is quitting 'Saturday Kitchen'
James, who took over from previous host Antony Worrall Thompson in 2006, will make his last appearance at the end of March.
He's explained that he has decided to leave to concentrate on other projects.
“I would like to personally thank all the viewers for turning 'Saturday Kitchen' into a three million-plus smash hit. I could not have done it without them,” he said in a statement.
“I would also like to thank the BBC and ‘Saturday Kitchen’ for the great opportunity they gave me. It has been an amazing journey and I have been privileged to work with some of the world’s greatest chefs and some of the greatest names in showbiz."
“I wish the new chefs every success. I am looking forward to getting stuck into my new projects and to lots of lie-ins on a Saturday morning,” he added.
James has hosted the show for 10 years
Dan McGolpin, Controller BBC Daytime and Early-Peak, also said: “On behalf of our viewers, I'd like to thank James for the last 10 years in which he has given up his Saturday mornings and more to help make ‘Saturday Kitchen’ into the much loved institution that it is today.
“James works extremely hard, not just on TV but across all of the other things that he does, I can understand his decision to concentrate on other things and I think we'll see him back on the BBC before long.”
Guest presenters will front the show from April onwards, while James will continue to be seen on ‘Saturday Kitchen Best Bites’ on BBC Two Sunday mornings.
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