James Martin Reveals Choking Scare with Celebrity Guest

Celebrity chef James Martin recently shared a startling experience from his popular ITV show, James Martin’s Saturday Morning. During an episode featuring fellow presenter Jenni Falconer, Martin worried he might have inadvertently harmed his guest when she began to choke on a piece of chicken he had prepared.

The incident occurred in 2024 while Martin was cooking a chicken parmigiana for Falconer, who is known for her vibrant personality and love of running. As they engaged in conversation about her career and early aspirations, Falconer attempted to take a bite of the dish. She later recounted on the LNER podcast, Routes, that the piece was “too big for [her] mouth.”

Martin, recalling the moment, described his immediate panic as he noticed Falconer’s face turn pale. “What do I do? What do I do?” he thought, contemplating performing the Heimlich maneuver. He was unsure whether Falconer was joking about her distress, but she clarified that the situation was very real. “It wasn’t a joke at all, it was awful,” she admitted, although she quickly added, “But it was delicious.”

The light-hearted exchange continued as Martin joked about potentially being the first chef to “kill” a guest on his show. Falconer, who was initially “mortified” by the choking scare, seemed to take the incident in stride, demonstrating the good spirits they both maintained despite the alarming circumstances.

Martin, who has been hosting James Martin’s Saturday Morning since its inception in 2017, reflected on the challenges he faced in his own culinary journey. He shared how he began his cooking career at a young age, starting as a pot washer at the age of eight. He also discussed overcoming obstacles such as his struggles with dyslexia and academic failures, including a setback in cookery exams.

As the conversation on the podcast unfolded, the pair laughed about the incident, emphasizing their close rapport. The show, which airs every Saturday at 09:30, remains a staple of weekend television viewing in the UK.

Fans can catch the latest episodes of James Martin’s Saturday Morning on ITV and listen to the Routes podcast available on both Spotify and Apple.