James Martin’s Saturday Morning made a lively return this weekend, featuring Strictly Come Dancing professionals Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu as special guests. The ITV chef welcomed the duo to his show, where they shared their passion for dance and reminisced about their experiences on the beloved BBC competition.
At 53, James reflected on his 2005 Strictly appearance, where he partnered with professional dancer Camilla Dallerup and finished in fourth place. He candidly revealed that during the show, he was subjected to a strict diet that often left him feeling “starving.”
The conversation arose after Amy, 35, spoke about managing Crohn’s disease, which limits her dietary options by excluding red meat, nuts, and foods with tough skins. She was surprised and delighted when James mentioned her favorite dish was fried chicken, exclaiming, “How do you know that?”
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James explained, “I think it’s a Strictly thing. When I was doing Strictly, I lived on the very well-known fast food outlet’s chicken, eating it by the bag and bucket. I was starving because the dancers put me on this diet where I had to eat lettuce all day and then buckets of chicken at night when I was off. So, I’m going to show you how to make your own!”
He later showcased his version of crispy fried chicken glazed with a sticky cherry cola barbecue sauce, garnished with fresh herbs, chili, and lime, impressing both Amy and Carlos.
James also credited his role on Saturday Morning to Strictly, joking, “When I was doing it, I’m pretty sure people were like, ‘Who’s that fat lad on the show?’” Carlos quickly interjected, calling him a “charming lad.”
Reflecting on the experience from nearly 20 years ago, James praised the dancers’ work ethic, saying, “I couldn’t believe the work ethic of you guys,” and noted that the standards must have only increased since then. Amy and Carlos acknowledged the demands of the show but emphasized their love for being part of it.
Amy shared that she was initially the first professional dancer to say no to Strictly but eventually joined and grew deeply attached to the show. She revealed that stepping away during her difficult cancer treatment felt like losing what she loved most.
While Amy has not confirmed a return to Strictly Come Dancing following her health challenges, fans will soon see her perform live alongside Carlos on their Reborn 2.0 tour, symbolizing the personal battles they have overcome together.
Carlos praised Amy during an appearance on the White Wine Question Time podcast, describing her as “so strong” and “so positive” through her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2023, including chemotherapy and a mastectomy.
James Martin’s Saturday Morning returns next Saturday at 9:30 am on ITV1 and ITVX.