James Martin ends 10-year stint as Saturday Kitchen host

Celebrity chef James Martin will present Saturday Kitchen for the last time today after 10 years at the helm.

Martin announced he was stepping down as the host of the popular BBC show in February.

In a statement he said: ''I am looking forward to getting stuck into my new projects and to lots of lie-ins on a Saturday morning.''

The cookery and car fanatic has presented the show since 2006.

The BBC announced a string of celebrity chefs would host the show following his departure.

Michelin star chef Michel Roux Jr will be the first presenter on April 2, with other culinary favourites such as Masterchef's John Torode and Lorraine Pascale also lined up to front the show.

The BBC said in a statement that Martin's last show would be "packed with plenty of nostalgia, classic clips from James's tenure, and surprise appearances by some of the big name chefs who have made his 10 years so memorable".

Martin has not bid cookery TV farewell completely, and will still appear on Saturday Kitchen Best Bites on BBC Two on Sunday mornings.

Saturday Kitchen started in 2002 and was fronted by Gregg Wallace, who was then followed by Antony Worrall Thompson.

:: Saturday Kitchen airs every Saturday at 10am on BBC One.