Television chef James Martin delivered a touching tribute to a special guest on his ITV show Saturday Morning on November 22. The popular presenter revealed he had made a secret visit to the renowned York bakery, Cosgriff and Sons, known for its exceptional sourdough bread.
Martin shared that he joined early morning customers in queuing incognito, wearing a hat to conceal his identity, just to get his hands on one of the sought-after artisan loaves. He recounted bringing the bread home to enjoy with his mother, marveling at the quality that inspires such long lines: “I went wow, there’s a reason why people are queueing up for this.”
On the show, James celebrated the bakery by crafting two distinctive sandwiches filled with crispy bacon and cheese using the prized sourdough loaves. Presenting them to bakery owner Paul Cosgriff via video link, he said, “Hopefully I’ve done that justice, Paul.”
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James acknowledged the loyalty and effort of Paul and his customers: “I know how busy it is there, people queueing at half past seven. I was one of those people. I’ll take my hat off next time as well. I came in incognito.”
Expressing genuine admiration, James wished Paul the best despite recent hardships. “You’ve had a bit of a tough time but the product speaks for itself. What you’re doing is amazing. I wish you all the very best of luck with it, I really do. It’s a privilege to feature you on the show.”
Paul, originally from Australia and a former fine dining chef, shared the moving story behind his bakery’s success. He revealed how a series of life challenges sparked his baking journey: “I slipped over and broke my hip at work. Around the same time, the pandemic hit, and my son was born eight weeks premature. After he was born, we found out he had Down Syndrome and a hole in his heart.”
Unable to continue working, Paul sought a new path that would also secure a future for his children. “I’d always had a love of bread, and started baking at home, then delivering loaves to people’s doorsteps—that’s where it all began.”
Today, Cosgriff and Sons produces about 500 loaves each week, capturing the hearts (and taste buds) of many in York and beyond. James Martin’s heartfelt visit and tribute not only highlighted the bakery’s success but also the inspiring story behind it.