Saturday Kitchen

Saturday Kitchen presenter Matt Tebbutt has been at the helm of the BBC cookery show for almost a decade

Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt has revealed a major confession nearly a decade after succeeding James Martin as the face of the BBC cookery programme.

The presenter, 52, had been a frequent guest and stand-in host before securing the permanent role in March 2017.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk at Jeremy Clarkson‘s FarmFest during the May Bank Holiday weekend, he confessed he now finally considers himself a TV chef.

“I think it is fair to say now I am probably a TV chef. I originally started as a working chef doing all the hours for 14 years. That’s a tough game. TV cookery isn’t.

“It comes with other pressures. There are time pressures. Conformity. I mean I’ve always been a chef but I think now it’s veered into ‘TV chef’,” he acknowledged. Discussing his position on the long-standing cookery programme.

He explained, “My job is to make food and cooking look really accessible. We have our guest chef’s on and they’re the kind of the aspirational ones.

“My job is to do those dishes that people will look at and go ‘I could get out of bed now and go to the supermarket and buy those ingredients and make that’.”

“Whether they do or not I don’t know but it is there for them,” he chuckled.

One philosophy Matt is particularly passionate about is the “farm to fork” approach, which was amongst the key reasons he was supporting Farm Fest.

He made an appearance at the festival on Sunday, 24 May, where he delivered a cookery demonstration, gave a talk and even took on the role of judge at the dog show, despite confessing he keeps two cats at home, reports the Express.

“It’s absolutely [great] to be able to support British farmers at a time when the government isn’t and to highlight [what they go through],” he said shortly after his arrival.

“I mean, you see it around you,” he added, gesturing towards the nearby stalls.

“People who are committed to supporting farming and where the food comes from. It’s marvellous. So if I can show support, I will.

“I live in a rural part of Wales, so you see it on a daily basis. You are in pubs with farmers chatting to them, and you know the sort of problems that they are trying to overcome right now, so it is great to support this.”

Saturday Kitchen airs at 9am every Saturday on BBC One and iPlayer

Saturday Kitchen presenter Matt Tebbutt joked with Rivals stars about a missing guest on this week’s show.

Matt Tebbutt explained why his Saturday Kitchen co-star was missing.

Saturday Kitchen returned this weekend, with presenter Matt Tebbutt hosting some of the stars of the newly released second season of Rivals.

He introduced Gary Lamont, Lisa McGrillis and Emily Atack from the series and asked them all about their characters and what they get up to in the Jilly Cooper adaptation.

After speaking to the Rivals cast, Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt addressed viewers, explaining one star’s absence from the line-up.

Helen McGinn, wine expert and presenter, had not been able to take part in the show as Matt said: “Now, Helen McGinn had to stay at home today because last night she had a binge-watch party with her neighbours in the leafy gated community of Hampshire.

“And seriously, she is too much of a fangirl to sit here today; her jaw would be on the floor. She can’t believe she’s missing out on our Rivals special.”

“So guys, please say hello to Helen.” The cast then waved and blew kisses, with Lamont saying, “Wish you were here.”

“Are you hungover, Helen?” McGrillis added cheekily as Matt joked, “Probably is. Helen, drop us a text, let us know what you are up to.”

Viewers took to X noticing her absence, with one sharing: “Rivals dropped last night, and Helen is not doing the wine this morning. Coincidence? #SaturdayKitchen”

Will Murray, Jake Croft and Kate Jenkins were on hand to serve up some culinary delights inspired by 80s classics in homage to Rivals.

Ollie Smith served up some classic cocktails, which were also in tribute to the Disney+ “bonkbuster” series.

Tebbutt and Smith spoke to the Rivals cast about the new season with the show’s host bingeing the first two episodes.

“It’s absolutely brilliant,” Tebbutt said. “And I have to say, none of you looks anything like you do.” Later in the episode, Tebbutt expressed his surprise at the stars’ transformations in the series.

Saturday Kitchen airs on BBC One on Saturdays at 10am