ITV James Martin Saturday Morning star 'doesn't know why' after fans notice his physical change

James Martin Saturday Morning star, who quit BBC Saturday Kitchen for the show, has detailed how he has lost weight in the past few years - all while consuming butter.

James Martin has explained he "doesn't know why" after fans noticed a physical change in him. The ITV James Martin Saturday Morning star, who quit BBC Saturday Kitchen for the show, has detailed how he has lost weight in the past few years - all while consuming butter.

Discussing people's fear over the ingredient, James said "It's a British problem." He said: "In the UK we have this natural obsession with stuff and I don't know why. Everywhere in the world manages to eat butter in moderation.

"It's a natural product and I'd rather eat that than whatever vegetable spread is. Do you know what margarine is made from? How do you make a product with so much stabiliser in it and other stuff that shouldn't be in it?

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"I think I'd rather eat butter all day long, thank you very much." He told Living North: "Originally I had the idea to do a book about fat and cover all topics from dripping to lard and all that kind of stuff, but my publicist said “well, what about your favourite ingredient?'"

"It was always going to be on the cards, it was just the timing. It’s a great ingredient, and I really do think people have been waiting for this book." James discussed his book, which was dedicated to the foodstuff, adding "I suppose my love for butter comes from my farming background. It’s not necessarily a Northern thing, it’s just the fact that my grandparents brought me up on proper food.

"I was surrounded by great quality ingredients and very natural ingredients and my love of butter really stems from there. Like so many things, you love it as a kid and even more as an adult." He said: "There are certain things you can’t just use supermarket butter to make, like croissants and pain au chocolat, you’ve got to use ones that are low in moisture.

"There is a whole world out there when it comes to butter. You’ve got big factory made ones, but you’ve also got the artisans who produce way better stuff."