James Martin panicked when Jenni Falconer choked on chicken parmigiana during his ITV Saturday Morning show, fearing he might have killed the radio and television presenter
Celebrity chef James Martin revealed he feared he might have caused the death of a guest when she began choking on food during his ITV programme.
The 53-year-old was speaking with Jenni Falconer, 49, on LNER’s Routes podcast about his remarkable career when they recalled a frightening moment on James Martin’s Saturday Morning, reports the Mirror.
Jenni explained: “I came on James’ show, and you made the most amazing chicken parmigiana and I cut a really big chunk and I was like ‘Oh no, I’ve got to eat it’. And it was too big for my mouth.”
While James suggested it would have been better if Jenni had cut a smaller portion, she explained that in the heat of the moment she decided to eat it anyway. She explained: “I was like, okay, I’ve got to just eat this now, but it’s too big but, I’ll be fine. And then I choked.”
Recounting his perspective, James said: “Your face just went white. I thought, what do I do? What do I do? I was thinking, ‘Do I Heimlich Manoeuvre? What do I do?’ and I’m thinking, I’m panicking.”
Jenni responded: “I was like I can’t breathe. It was so awful.”
James admitted that initially he thought she was joking before Jenni made clear: “It wasn’t a joke at all. It was awful. I just literally shoved such a massive chunk in my mouth at once, but it was delicious.”
Reflecting on the incident with a light-hearted remark knowing Jenni came through unscathed, James said: “I thought the first and only guest I’ve killed on the show is going to be you.”
The conversation between Jenni and James wasn’t limited to pasta-related near-death experiences, as the radio host also quizzed the chef about his top pick for fish and chips in the UK.
James, a Yorkshire native born in Malton, singled out one particular establishment as the “pinnacle” and “nirvana” of fish and chips: the Magpie Café in Whitby, North Yorkshire.
The ITV celebrity chef described his divine experience at the seaside eatery, where he ordered a large haddock accompanied by mushy peas, salt, vinegar, and tartar sauce.
He enthusiastically recounted his visit, detailing the sensory delight of the seaside setting. He advised: “Go to Whitby, you have to have fish and chips, I think at the Magpie.
“You’ve got to have a large haddock. A large haddock, mushy peas, you have your lemon, your tartar sauce, you have your Sarson’s vinegar and you have your salt.”
As he painted a vivid picture of the experience, he said: “You sit there and the wind’s howling a gale, you sit there and you open up this pot of gold, and then there’s just smell as this steam comes up, it hits your nose.
“The wind howling, but as this steam hits your nose, a little drip of snot drips onto your fish and then you’re in nirvana, heaven, you’re in the pinnacle of fish and chips.”
Catch James Martin’s Saturday Morning today (January 24) at 9.30am on ITV. Guests include singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti.
