James Martin is thought to be ending 2025 to the sound of wedding bells, having popped the question to his partner, who is 14 years younger than him.
The TV chef, 53, has been dating Kim Johnson, 39, for almost two years.
He moved on with the personal trainer after confirming his split from Louise Davies, whom he had been with for 12 years.
But after previously insisting he would never get married, it looks like Kim has influenced James to have a change of heart.
Is James Martin engaged?
As reported this weekend by The Sun, the Saturday Kitchen star is set to marry for the first time.
‘Marriage doesn’t interest me in the slightest,’ he once famously said; however, sources claim that ‘everyone has seen the change in him since meeting Kim’, insisting that he’s ‘never been happier’.
But his proposal was allegedly far from conventional, as it’s believed the car fanatic gifted his wife-to-be a brand-new Land Rover Defender after she agreed to say ‘I do.’
Speaking fondly of the happy couple, an insider said: ‘James and Kim may have been dating for less than two years, but when you know, you know.
‘Of course, it’s taken James decades to finally get there, and friends do share a wry smile that he’s U-turned on his staunch refusal to ever marry.’
‘They are a wonderful couple,’ they added.
In 2019, James opened up about his reluctance to walk down the aisle, saying it was mainly because, as a celebrity chef, he’s ‘catered for so many weddings’.
‘I admire people who do it; that’s fine,’ he said of marriage. ‘But I’m quite happy.’
James stated: ‘I don’t need to spend £60,000 on a day. No, I’m more than happy, thanks.’
He also doesn’t have any kids, declaring his collection of classic cars his ‘babies’ in 2020.
‘My mates come round to my house, and they look into my garage, and I go, “These are my babies; these are my things”.’
Who else has James Martin dated?
Prior to Kim, James became romantically involved with TV producer Louise in 2011, having met on Celebrity Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2010.
They resided in a country home together and were photographed on public dates on many occasions, whether it be at an F1 Grand Prix or food and drink events.
A spokesperson for James confirmed in December 2023 that he and Louise had parted ways, insisting they remained ‘firm friends’.
It’s believed James became far more protective of his love life upon meeting Louise, given the very public nature of his earlier four-and-a-half-year romance with Barbara Broccoli.
The presenter started dating the James Bond producer after she paid £18,000 to have him cook a meal for her as part of a charity auction in 2001. James was 29 at the time.
American-British film producer Barbara, now 65, clicked with James right away, requesting that he cook again for her at her birthday bash.
Despite the age gap, James always insisted it never bothered him.
Writing previously for the Daily Mail, he said: ‘The age difference never appeared to be a problem.
‘I’ve always liked independent women: we both had strong opinions and plenty to say for ourselves, so life was never boring.’
While James once described the movie boss as ‘the first real love of [his] life’ and assured people he would always think highly of her, they went their separate ways after he realised the ‘imbalance’.
Barbara once offered to buy James an Aston Martin with a whopping £180,000 price tag, which he insisted was too expensive. She also showered him with flashy gifts, such as a Picasso painting.
On their breakup, he wrote: ‘To walk away from someone you love and who loves you that much is hard.
‘Maybe it was the daftest thing I have done in my life, but it was probably the most sensible, too.
‘In the end, I think it was for the best, not just for Barbara and me but also for her children.’
As for James’s bride-to-be, Kim is the ex-wife of businessman Arun Nayar, who was married to Elizabeth Hurley from 2007 to 2011.
She and Arun began dating in 2011, but their marriage itself was short-lived, as they exchanged vows in July 2016 but divorced the year after.
Reps for James Martin have been contacted for comment.
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