James Martin returns to Bolton Food and Drink Festival for his 15th year, and he’s got some tasty new recipes to celebrate the festival's 20th anniversary.

Make sure to book your tickets to one of his exclusive cooking demos at the Festival Hall in the Albert Halls where you’ll get to see the TV chef cook up a storm first hand.

Note: All demos will be BSL signed.

James rise to fame
James Martin made a great impact with his television debut in November ‘96 and has rarely been off screen since.

He was a regular chef on Ready Steady Cook (BBC2), and in 2006 reached the semi-finals of Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1). He went on to present BBC1’s hit series Saturday Kitchen for 10 years, regularly attracting viewers in excess of 3.5 million.

In 2008, James featured in The Real Italian Job (BBC2) where he lived his dream of racing in the exclusive Mille Miglia in Italy in a vintage sports car. With over 3.5 million viewers, it cemented his reputation as a favourite among car experts and enthusiasts.

He has presented many series for UKTV and BBC; Operation Hospital Food, Operation Meet the Street, The Box, and Home Comforts, as well as being a judge on Junior Bake Off.

James’s career began at Castle Howard, where his father ran the catering with James often helping out. He was Student of the Year three years running at Scarborough Technical College, and at the tender age of 22, he opened the Hotel du Vin & Bistro in Winchester as Head Chef, where he changed the menu every day.

For three years, James had his restaurant at The Talbot, in Malton, North Yorkshire, where he spent all of his childhood. The restaurant was placed in the Michelin Guide within a year of opening in 2012.

James Martin Manchester opened in September 2013 and listed in The Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants 2015. James Martin Kitchen opened in 2015 at Stansted Airport leading to further successful openings at Manchester Piccadilly station, Glasgow Airport and Debenhams Lakeside, with more to come from the JMK brand in the near future. In February 2017, James opened The Kitchen restaurant and cookery school at Chewton Glen in Hampshire.

A keen journalist, James currently writes a weekly food column in Daily Mail Weekend and previously wrote for BBC Good Food, Sky Magazine and weekly car reviews for Mail on Sunday’s Live magazine. In 2016, he toured the UK with his first show ‘Plates, Mates and Automobiles’ to great success, bringing a new tour ‘On the Road Again’ to audiences in 2018.