When he was merely 12, James Martin cooked for the Queen Mother on her visit to Castle Howard in Yorkshire, where his father worked. James went to Scarborough to begin his formal training when he was 16, and became the student of the year for three consecutive years. He soon proceeded to London, working under Antony Worral Thompson. James then went to France for work, and when he returned to England at the age of 22, he opened the Hotel and Bistro du Vin in Winchester. James started to appear on "Ready, Steady, Cook" in 1996 and became a regular. His own programmes included "For Better For Worse", "Simply Fish", "Entertaining with James" and "Food for Lovers". He now owns a deli and bakery called "Cadogan & James" in Winchester.