The TV chef was clearly moved by the touching gesture during his visit to a French cheese fortress on James Martin’s Saturday Morning
Samantha King Content Editor
11:53, 14 Feb 2026
The ITV cooking show featured a touching tribute to the TV chef(Image: ITV)
ITV broadcast a heartwarming tribute to television chef James Martin during the most recent episode of his weekend culinary programme.
James Martin’s Saturday Morning made its return on Valentine’s Day (February 14), with the presenter hosting former Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow and condiment expert Levi Roots at his Hampshire residence.
Early in the programme, James travelled to Jura, France, to meet cheese specialist Jean-Charles Arnaud. Setting up the feature, he encouraged viewers: “Just enjoy this. This is pretty special.”
The segment took him to a historic French fortress that now houses more than 100,000 wheels of Comté cheese. There, he joined the cheese authority who guided him through the storage areas deep inside the fortification.
James was wowed by the cheese’s flavour(Image: ITV)
“In over 50,000 metres of vaulted rooms more than 100,000 rounds of glorious Comté cheese are aged and refined,” James narrated in his voiceover, before clips showed him venturing into the space alongside Jean-Charles, reports the Mirror.
“This is just about the best place I’ve ever been to,” James remarked, clearly impressed by the towering racks laden with cheese. “These caves are incredible.”
Jean-Charles revealed that the cheeses undergo maturation for at least a year, and tapping them served as an indicator of how the ageing process was progressing.
He showed this technique to James, who observed with fascination as each cheese wheel produced a distinct sound when struck with a small hammer. He spotted a “good one”, which was selected for closer examination and sampling.
The wheel was carved with James’ name(Image: ITV)
The 40kg cheese had already matured for 12 months. Upon tasting it, James exclaimed: “It’s fantastic,” before breaking into laughter.
Evidently impressed by his passion for the produce, Jean-Charles then etched James’ name onto the rim of the wheel, preparing it for collection in another year’s time in a heartfelt gesture.
Visibly touched by the act, James enquired: “That’s my cheese?” He promptly quipped: “Problem is I’ve got to find it – thank you very much. I’m coming back for that, that’s amazing.”
James Martin’s Saturday Morning airs on ITV1 and ITVX from 9.30am on Saturdays. For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new ** Everything Gossip ** website.
Dining and Cooking