James Martin has announced a major enhancement to his Saturday Morning show as part of ITV’s ongoing daytime programming overhaul. The beloved chef made a special New Year’s Day return to ITV1, broadcasting from his Hampshire countryside home to kick off 2026.
Joining James were chefs Sally Abe and John Hooker, along with ex-England rugby star and Strictly Come Dancing alum Chris Robshaw, who added vibrant energy to the festive episode.
Before closing the show, James revealed the exciting news: starting Saturday, January 3, the show would expand by 45 minutes, moving to a new 9:30am to 12pm timeslot. This extension reflects a broader reconfiguration of ITV’s daytime schedules aimed at delivering an enhanced viewer experience.
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James warmly thanked his guests, quipping to John Hooker, “Don’t worry, you’ll be invited back!”—a testament to the show’s inviting and friendly atmosphere. He wished viewers a happy new year and promised more culinary delights in the new “super-sized” format.
Throughout the special, James treated the audience to a sumptuous steak sandwich featuring onion layers, mustard mayonnaise, and salsa verde. He also led a masterclass on crafting a sticky toffee yule log, while John Hooker impressed with a monkfish dish and Sally Abe delighted with a mushroom and egg recipe.
This expansion of Saturday Morning coincides with ITV’s broader changes to its flagship daytime shows, including This Morning, Loose Women, Lorraine, and Good Morning Britain. These staples are relocating to new central London studios and adopting revised broadcast times, with some programmes offering 30-week seasonal runs.
For example, Loose Women will return to its 12:30pm to 1:30pm slot on a seasonal schedule, Lorraine will air from 9:30am to 10am on a 30-week basis, and This Morning will keep its 10am to 12:30pm slot. Good Morning Britain will extend its duration by 30 minutes, airing from 6am to 9:30am, with further extensions when Lorraine is off-air.
These changes, part of ITV’s cost-saving measures, have resulted in the loss of around 220 positions, affecting long-serving team members across various shows. Despite these challenges, the network maintains a strong commitment to delivering quality daytime programming.
Viewers can catch James Martin’s expanded Saturday Morning show on ITV1 or stream episodes on ITVX.