James Martin, 46, and Chris Evans, 52, were discussing the latter’s life after having twins with wife Natasha Shishmanian before the DJ made a flippant comment referring to the host’s departure from the BBC in 2016. Speaking on James Martin’s Saturday Morning show today, former Top Gear host Chris began: “Our life is about logistics, you know… we have a million children now, trying to get excited about a car is quite interesting.” James replied: “See… you’ve changed. We used to get phone calls…” Turning to a guest, he added: “I used to be like an agony aunt to him and it was always, ‘Which car should I get?’
“Now I feel like I’m his work guru and he’s like, ‘What do you think of this? Should I do this?’ And it’s never about the cars.”
Chris then quipped: “Well I came here for lessons on how to leave the BBC because you did that…”
Shocked by his remark, James looked up to the camera giving a surprised expression.
The chef stayed silent as Chris added: “OK, now you can tell there is 3,000 people behind the camera and 3,000 people in our ears.”
Chris made the joke as he revealed he will be beginning his new show in Virgin Radio on January 21st.
The radio star quit his BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show earlier this year and also left Top Gear two years ago.
He told James: “Lots of people think I’m retiring. I’m not going to the DJs retiring home!”
James then asked him: “Do you love radio more than anything else?”
Grinning, he responded: “Well, I love car shows as well. No, I’m much more comfortable doing radio.”
Back in 2016, James spoke out about why he left his BBC show James Martin’s Saturday Kitchen.
He told The Mirror: “I didn’t think leaving Saturday Kitchen would be such a big deal.
“I genuinely said to my agent, ‘Stick it out there, but no one will be bothered,’ and next minute it was all over the papers.
“It was like One Direction splitting up.”
Elaborating on his reasons for leaving, he added: “I left because 10 years is a long time.
“That’s every Friday and Saturday you’re giving up. I had to be in bed by 9pm and up at 3am.
“It’s a tough show: there’s a lot of content and when that red light comes on it’s just you, cooking and interviewing, with 26 people waffling in your ear.
James Martin’s Saturday Morning airs Saturdays at 9.25am on ITV.