After Dinner Speakers: James Martin, Andrew Motion, Madeleine K. Albright

James Martin was born into the chef’s life: his father ran the catering side of Castle Howard in Yorkshire and, when he was only 12, James could boast that he'd cooked for the Queen Mother on her visit there. At 16 he went to Scarborough where he began his formal training. While there, for three years running he was student of the year. His work was noticed by Antony Worrall Thompson who brought James to London to work, at the tender age of 22, he opened the Hotel and Bistro du Vin in Winchester where, as Head Chef, he changed the menu every day. James’s television career began in 1996 on Ready, Steady, Cook where he is still a regular. He has also made two of his own series, For Better, For Worse and Simply Fish and now has a regular slot on the BBC daytime series, Housecall.