James Martin’s popular ITV show, Saturday Morning, experienced a scheduling shift this weekend.
Typically airing at 9:30am every Saturday since its launch in 2017, the show has continued James’s legacy following his departure from BBC’s Saturday Kitchen. The programme usually features celebrity guests and lively cooking segments.
However, for this weekend only, Saturday Morning aired an hour later, starting at 10:30am. The earlier 9:30am to 10:30am slot was filled by ITV Racing: The Opening Show. This condensed edition of James Martin’s show then ran until 12:15pm, as reported by the Mirror.
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This episode also marks the final broadcast before the show takes its summer hiatus. The official social media channels teased the upcoming break, saying, “Can you believe it’s our last show before the summer break today?!”
Despite the pause, viewers were excited about the episode, which featured guests including singer Natasha Hamilton, chef Mike Reid, and award-winning chocolatier Melanie Twitchell.
Fans expressed their enthusiasm online: one commented, “Can’t wait! I’m a huge fan of Mark Tilling! Hoping to see Paul Ainsworth back on the show soon – always brilliant when he’s on!” Another added, “Well I will be watching the show later, well done for all your hard work and making the show happen. See you next season.”
A third viewer shared, “Love this show, can’t wait for the next season to come back,” while a fourth said, “Another great lineup, so sad it’s your last show. Enjoy your break.”
This scheduling adjustment follows a “super-sized” announcement James Martin made earlier this year. On New Year’s Day, he revealed that the show would be extended by 45 minutes, running from 9:30am to 12pm, as part of ITV’s broader daytime programming reshuffle. This shake-up also affected other shows like Lorraine Kelly’s and Loose Women, which now operate on seasonal schedules.
At the time, James Martin said to viewers, “That’s all we’ve got time for today. A massive thank you to my guests Sally, John and, of course, the brilliant Chris Robshaw. Thank you very much. We’ll see you back next Saturday morning, where we will be in the new super-sized slot—that’s where we’ll be. An improved show, it says on [the autocue].”
He concluded, “But until then, enjoy the rest of your day. Happy New Year’s Day everyone, bye for now!”
James Martin’s Saturday Morning returns after the summer on ITV1 and ITVX.